COVID-19 Protection: New Protective Plastic Film Containing Silver-Silica Nanoparticles Eliminates 99.84 Percent Of SARS-CoV-2 Virus On Contact
Source: COVID-19 Protection Nov 09, 2020 3 years, 5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 3 hours, 31 minutes ago
COVID-19 Protection: Nanox, a Brazilian company based on São Paulo and supported by São Paulo Research Foundation, through FAPESP’s Innovative Research in Small Business Program (PIPE) has developed a new technology of incorporating nanoparticles of silver and silica into the polyethylene structure of a new protective film against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The company has licensed Promaflex to manufacture the film and Thailand Medical News is the regional distributor.
Laboratory tests showed film containing silver-silica nanoparticles to be capable of
eliminating 99.84% of SARS-CoV-2 particles after exposure for two minutes.
Credit: Promaflex
Highly sensitive laboratory tests showed the film to be capable of eliminating 99.84% of SARS-CoV-2 particles after exposure for two minutes.
The adhesive plastic film designed to protect surfaces such as doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons, and touch screens by inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus on contact.
In detailed tests conducted at the University of São Paulo’s Biomedical Sciences Institute (ICB-USP), which has laboratories certified for Biosafety Level III (BSL-3), the film proved capable of eliminating 99.84% of the viral particles after two minutes of contact.
Dr Lucio Freitas Junior, a researcher at ICB-USP told Thailand Medical News, “The technical standard governing measurement of antiviral activity on plastic and other non-porous surfaces, ISO 21702, requires demonstration of this capability within four hours. The plastic film with silver-silica nanoparticles did so far sooner, and its virucidal action increased over time.”
The tests were performed to measure the adhesive plastic film’s capacity to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and were in line with ISO 21702:2019.
Specimens of the new protective film with and without silver-silica nanoparticles were kept in direct contact with SARS-CoV-2 for varying amounts of time.
After the stipulated periods, the viral particles found in the material were removed and placed in contact with Vero cells to measure the infection and replication rate after exposure to the film. The Vero cells were derived from the kidney of an African monkey and widely used in microbiological cultures.
The subsequent viral genetic material was quantified by PCR, showing a reduction of almost 100% in copies of SARS-CoV-2 after two minutes of exposure.
Nanox CEO Luiz Gustavo Pagotto Simões told Thailand Medical News, “The silver-silica nanoparticles are added to the polyethylene during its production, so the film’s antimicrobial action persists throughout its working life.”
However Nanox recommends the use of the film for up to three months after which it may wear out from excessive contact.
The new protective adhesive film is the second plastic material with silver-silica nanoparticles marketed by N
anox for protection against COVID-19.
In another deal with toymaker Elka, the São Paulo-based firm has developed a reusable face covering made of flexible thermoplastic material similar to rubber, and coated with the additive as a surface layer. The mask promises to confer a higher level of protection against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
In late August the product was approved by ANVISA, Brazil’s public health surveillance authority, as a FFP2 mask for use in personal protective equipment (PPE).
Simões added, “Nanox won approval for the filter used in the mask in compliance with NBR 13698 [the Brazilian technical standard for filtering half-masks used as respiratory protective equipment of the non-motorized air purifier type] and the mask is registered as PPE.”
Interestingly the silver-silica nanoparticles have been used to coat fabric for anti-COVID-19 apparel. In laboratory tests, the coated material also proved capable of inactivating the virus after two minutes.
The silver-silica nanoparticle additive has been used directly in apparel and fabric made by several industrial firms (such as Santista, Malwee, Cedro Têxtil and Delfim Tecidos) under a licensing agreement with Nanox.
Simões added, “The fabric was a disruptive case for us. We changed our business plan and began licensing the use of our brand in addition to selling the additive. In some cases, we earn royalties on sales of products that use our brand.”
Typically textiles are impregnated with the silver-silica nanoparticles using a process known as pad-dry-cure. Padding is a coating technique commonly used as a textile finishing method.
Freitas Junior added, “Repeated washing can lead to loss of the additive. “But we’ve tested excessive washing of fabric with the additive and found no loss of efficacy.”
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