Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

Scientists develop an anti-coronavirus surface coating

Nanoparticles containing metal ions and polymers can keep surfaces coronavirus-free for up to months.

Tibi Puiu by Tibi Puiu
May 13, 2020
in Health, News
This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient, emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. Credit: NIAID-RML.

Researchers in Israel affiliated with the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) have developed a nanoparticle coating that deactivates the coronavirus off surfaces.

The novel coating could be employed across surfaces in hospitals and healthcare facilities, as well as crowded indoor public spaces like airports, schools, and public transit.

Coronavirus repellant

Although there are many unknowns surrounding SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, the general consensus is that the coronavirus mainly spreads through direct contact from person to person.

A secondary mode of transmission is through contact with contaminated surfaces, such as a doorknob or bus rail that was sprayed with respiratory fluids containing the virus following a cough or sneeze.

In order to avoid infections, surfaces that are often touched by potential hosts for the virus must be disinfected. However, the procedure needs to be repeated perhaps multiple times a day for it to be of any use.

In contrast, the new coating developed in Israel needs to be only applied once and its anti-microbial properties persist for weeks or perhaps even months.

The coating is made up of nanoparticles of metal ions (copper and other metals) and polymers. The proof-of-concept was coated on various surfaces that came in contact with viral agents from the HIV family of lentiviruses.

The findings show that the copper nanoparticles blocked infections in cultured cells.

“The current coronavirus is transmitted not only through droplet spray, but also via surfaces that can transmit the virus from one person to another. It is important to remember that we are developing coatings that will be effective not only against the coronavirus but also against other viruses, as indicated in our proof of concept experiments, and also against bacteria, so they will be relevant for a wide range of applications,” said Prof. Angel Porgador from the BGU Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN).

Researchers at Dr. Mark Schvartzman’a laboratory. Image Credit: Dani Machlis.

The coating can be painted or sprayed directly onto surfaces. The nanoparticles then gradually release metal ions onto the surface with a strong anti-viral effect, eradicating any virus particles that adhere to the surface.

These metal ions are released very slowly, which means a coated surface can deactivate microbes for an extended period of time, up to months.

“While current surface disinfection methods rely mostly on substances that are poisonous for people, such as bleach, or on substances that evaporate readily being based on alcohol, the coating that we are developing is based on metals that are toxic for viruses or bacteria, but completely human friendly,” said Dr. Mark Schvartzman of the BGU Department of Materials Engineering.

“It should be noted that until now using such metals for anti-viral applications has encountered significant challenges due to the nature of the metals, such as the tendency to oxidize and corrode. Nanoparticles provide a solution to these obstacles. Another advantage of nanoparticles is the large surface area to volume ratio, which results in an efficient anti-viral surface area using a relatively small amount of metal.”

Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Related posts:
  1. The first permanent anti-fog coating has been developed
  2. Researchers develop new coating that could remove teeth stains more effectively
  3. New Silicone Technology Creates Super Slippery, Anti-Bacterial Surface
  4. Zombie fungus could help develop new anti-viral medicine and cancer drugs
  5. Scientists develop paint that can turn any surface into a battery
Tags: coronavirusCOVID-19

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW