Virucidal Properties of Photocatalytic Coating on Glass against a Model Human Coronavirus
ABSTRACT The antimicrobial properties of photocatalysts have long been studied. However, most of the available literature describes their antibacterial properties, while knowledge of their antiviral activity is rather scarce. Since the outset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Society for Microbiology
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00269-22 |
| _version_ | 1818255537436884992 |
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| author | Ángel L. Álvarez Kevin P. Dalton Inés Nicieza Fabio A. Abade Dos Santos Pilar de la Peña Pedro Domínguez José M. Martin-Alonso Francisco Parra |
| author_facet | Ángel L. Álvarez Kevin P. Dalton Inés Nicieza Fabio A. Abade Dos Santos Pilar de la Peña Pedro Domínguez José M. Martin-Alonso Francisco Parra |
| author_sort | Ángel L. Álvarez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT The antimicrobial properties of photocatalysts have long been studied. However, most of the available literature describes their antibacterial properties, while knowledge of their antiviral activity is rather scarce. Since the outset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an increasing body of research has suggested their antiviral potential and highlighted the need for further research in this area. In this study, we investigated the virucidal properties of a commercial TiO2-coated photocatalytic glass against a model human coronavirus. Our findings demonstrate that the TiO2-coated glass consistently inactivates coronaviruses upon contact under daylight illumination, in a time-dependent manner. A 99% drop in virus titer was achieved after 3.9 h. The electron micrographs of virus-covered TiO2-glass showed a reduced number of virions compared to control glass. Morphological alterations of TiO2-exposed viruses included deformation, disruption of the viral envelope, and virion ghosts, endorsing the application of this material in the construction of protective elements to mitigate the transmission of viruses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing direct visual evidence of human coronaviruses being damaged and morphologically altered following exposure to this photocatalyst. IMPORTANCE Surface contamination is an important contributor to SARS-CoV-2 spread. The use of personal protective elements and physical barriers (i.e., masks, gloves, and indoor glass separators) increases safety and has proven invaluable in preventing contagion. Redesigning these barriers so that the virus cannot remain infectious on them could make a difference in COVID-19 epidemiology. The introduction of additives with virucidal activity could potentiate the protective effects of these barriers to serve not only as physical containment but also as virus killers, reducing surface contamination after hand touch or aerosol deposition. We performed in-depth analysis of the kinetics of photocatalysis-triggered coronavirus inactivation on building glass coated with TiO2. This is the first report showing direct visual evidence (electron microscopy) of coronaviruses being morphologically damaged following exposure to this photocatalyst, demonstrating the high potential of this material to be incorporated into daily-life high-touch surfaces, giving them an added value in decelerating the virus spread. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:13:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-752d061704ab4855a272c9ca03d5604d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2165-0497 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:13:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj.art-752d061704ab4855a272c9ca03d5604d2022-12-22T00:17:50ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972022-06-0110310.1128/spectrum.00269-22Virucidal Properties of Photocatalytic Coating on Glass against a Model Human CoronavirusÁngel L. Álvarez0Kevin P. Dalton1Inés Nicieza2Fabio A. Abade Dos Santos3Pilar de la Peña4Pedro Domínguez5José M. Martin-Alonso6Francisco Parra7Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, SpainDepartamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, SpainDepartamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, SpainDepartamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, SpainDepartamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, SpainDepartamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, SpainDepartamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, SpainDepartamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, SpainABSTRACT The antimicrobial properties of photocatalysts have long been studied. However, most of the available literature describes their antibacterial properties, while knowledge of their antiviral activity is rather scarce. Since the outset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an increasing body of research has suggested their antiviral potential and highlighted the need for further research in this area. In this study, we investigated the virucidal properties of a commercial TiO2-coated photocatalytic glass against a model human coronavirus. Our findings demonstrate that the TiO2-coated glass consistently inactivates coronaviruses upon contact under daylight illumination, in a time-dependent manner. A 99% drop in virus titer was achieved after 3.9 h. The electron micrographs of virus-covered TiO2-glass showed a reduced number of virions compared to control glass. Morphological alterations of TiO2-exposed viruses included deformation, disruption of the viral envelope, and virion ghosts, endorsing the application of this material in the construction of protective elements to mitigate the transmission of viruses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing direct visual evidence of human coronaviruses being damaged and morphologically altered following exposure to this photocatalyst. IMPORTANCE Surface contamination is an important contributor to SARS-CoV-2 spread. The use of personal protective elements and physical barriers (i.e., masks, gloves, and indoor glass separators) increases safety and has proven invaluable in preventing contagion. Redesigning these barriers so that the virus cannot remain infectious on them could make a difference in COVID-19 epidemiology. The introduction of additives with virucidal activity could potentiate the protective effects of these barriers to serve not only as physical containment but also as virus killers, reducing surface contamination after hand touch or aerosol deposition. We performed in-depth analysis of the kinetics of photocatalysis-triggered coronavirus inactivation on building glass coated with TiO2. This is the first report showing direct visual evidence (electron microscopy) of coronaviruses being morphologically damaged following exposure to this photocatalyst, demonstrating the high potential of this material to be incorporated into daily-life high-touch surfaces, giving them an added value in decelerating the virus spread.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00269-22virucidal activityhuman coronavirusphotocatalytic coatingtitanium dioxide |
| spellingShingle | Ángel L. Álvarez Kevin P. Dalton Inés Nicieza Fabio A. Abade Dos Santos Pilar de la Peña Pedro Domínguez José M. Martin-Alonso Francisco Parra Virucidal Properties of Photocatalytic Coating on Glass against a Model Human Coronavirus Microbiology Spectrum virucidal activity human coronavirus photocatalytic coating titanium dioxide |
| title | Virucidal Properties of Photocatalytic Coating on Glass against a Model Human Coronavirus |
| title_full | Virucidal Properties of Photocatalytic Coating on Glass against a Model Human Coronavirus |
| title_fullStr | Virucidal Properties of Photocatalytic Coating on Glass against a Model Human Coronavirus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Virucidal Properties of Photocatalytic Coating on Glass against a Model Human Coronavirus |
| title_short | Virucidal Properties of Photocatalytic Coating on Glass against a Model Human Coronavirus |
| title_sort | virucidal properties of photocatalytic coating on glass against a model human coronavirus |
| topic | virucidal activity human coronavirus photocatalytic coating titanium dioxide |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00269-22 |
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