Interrogating the Effect of Assay Media on the Rate of Virus Inactivation of High‐Touch Copper Surfaces: A Materials Science Approach. Issue 17 (4th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Glover, Carol F.; Miyake, Tsuyoshi; Wallemacq, Victor; Harris, Jamie D.; Emery, John; Engel, Daniel A.; McDonnell, Stephen J.; Scully, John R.
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials interfaces. Volume 9:Issue 17(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-05-04
• Subjects: anti‐viral high‐touch surfaces -- copper -- electrochemistry -- surface characterization -- virus mitigation; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/admi.202200390
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-7350

Abstract

Abstract: Contamination of high‐touch surfaces with infected droplets of bodily secretions is a known route of virus transmission. Copper surfaces have been reported to inactivate human coronaviruses after several minutes, via the release of Cu cations. Utilization of copper alloys for high‐touch surfaces can be a pivotal preemptive strategy for preventing the next pandemic. Understanding the true efficacy by which copper, and copper alloys, inactivate the virus under realistic conditions is essential for tuning intrinsic alloy features such as composition, grain orientation, and surface attributes, to optimize for antiviral function. However, virus inactivation measurements depend on the presence of an assay media (AM) solution as a carrier for the virus, and its effects on the surface properties of pure copper that regulate oxidative copper release are previously unknown. Herein, these properties and the influence of AM on the efficacy of virus inactivation occurring on the surface of pure copper are investigated. The process is uncovered by which a five‐fold decrease in virus half‐life is observed in simulated real‐life conditions, relative to exposure to traditional AM. The investigation highlights the notion that virus inactivation on copper surfaces may be significantly more effective than previously thought. Abstract : This article illuminates for the first time how human coronavirus (OC43) inactivation times due to copper disinfection depend on common laboratory testing conditions that are foreign to real‐life exposures, such as in human perspiration. It is shown that assay media chemistry alters inactivation times linked to changes in surface chemistry and complexation of otherwise free copper cations in assay solution.