Inactivation of SARS‑CoV‑2 on salt‑coated surfaces: an in vitro study
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Author
Gsell, Monika
Bulliard, Xavier
Schorderet Weber, Sandra
Xiang, Yang
Constant, Samuel
Steiner, Sandro
Biselli, Silivia
Pugin, Raphaël
Palmieri, Michele
Hogg, Andreas
DOI
Abstract
In the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), face masks
have become a very important safety measure against the main route of transmission of the virus: droplets and aerosols.
Concerns that masks contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 infectious particles could be a risk for self-contamination have
emerged early in the pandemic as well as solutions to mitigate this risk. The coating of masks with sodium chloride, an antiviral
and non-hazardous to health chemical, could be an option for reusable masks. To assess the antiviral properties of salt
coatings deposited onto common fabrics by spraying and dipping, the present study established an in vitro bioassay using
three-dimensional airway epithelial cell cultures and SARS-CoV-2 virus. Virus particles were given directly on salt-coated
material, collected, and added to the cell cultures. Infectious virus particles were measured by plaque forming unit assay
and in parallel viral genome copies were quantified over time. Relative to noncoated material, the sodium chloride coating
significantly reduced virus replication, confirming the effectiveness of the method to prevent fomite contamination with
SARS-CoV-2. In addition, the lung epithelia bioassay proved to be suitable for future evaluation of novel antiviral coatings.
Publication Reference
Archives of Microbiology,205,272
Year
2023-06-30