A reduced graphene oxide-Fe3O4 composite functionalized with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide for efficient adsorption of SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirus and human enteric viruses

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 291; no. Pt 3; p. 132995
• Main Authors: Zhou, Shuqing, Jin, Min, Tan, Rong, Shen, Zhiqiang, Yin, Jing, Qiu, Zhigang, Chen, Zhengshan, Shi, Danyang, Li, Haibei, Yang, Zhongwei, Wang, Huaran, Gao, Zhixian, Li, Junwen, Yang, Dong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2022; The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: adsorption; cetyltrimethylammonium bromide; detection limit; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; genome; graphene; graphene oxide; Human enteric viruses; humans; Pseudovirus; public health; Reduced graphene oxide; river water; SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirus; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; transmission electron microscopy; Virion adsorption; virus transmission; viruses; X-ray diffraction; zeta potential; SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirus; Reduced graphene oxide; Human enteric viruses; Virion adsorption
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132995

The latent dangers of waterborne viral transmission have become a major public health concern. In this study, reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-Fe3O4 nanoparticles were decorated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) to adsorb severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike pseudovirus and three human enteric viruses (HuNoV, HRV, and HAdV). The successful combination of CTAB with rGO-Fe3O4 was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential, Brunner-Emmet-Teller, and vibrating sample magnetometer measurements. The adsorption of HuNoV and HAdV followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, while that of HRV conformed to the pseudo-second-order model. CTAB-functionalized rGO-Fe3O4 exhibited exceptionally high adsorption of HuNoV, HRV, HAdV and SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirus, with maximum adsorption capacities of 3.55 × 107, 7.01 × 107, 2.21 × 107 and 6.92 × 106 genome copies mg−1, respectively. Moreover, the composite could effectively adsorb the four types of virus particles from coastal, tap, and river water. In addition, concentrating the virions using CTAB functionalized rGO-Fe3O4 composites before qPCR analysis significantly improved the detection limit. The results indicate that viruses are captured on the surface of CTAB functionalized rGO-Fe3O4 composites through electrostatic interactions and the intrinsic adsorption ability of rGO. Overall, CTAB-functionalized rGO-Fe3O4 composites are promising materials for the adsorption and detection of human enteric viruses as well as SARS-CoV-2 from complex aqueous environments. [Display omitted] •Functionalized reduced graphene oxide-Fe3O4 was prepared to adsorb virus particles from water.•The adsorbents show exceptionally high adsorption capacities towards HuNoV, HRV, HAdV and SARS-CoV-2 Spike Pseudovirus.•The composite could effectively adsorb the four virus species from coastal, tap, and river water.•Concentrating virus using composites before qPCR analysis can significantly improve detection limit.