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. 2022 Mar 11;23(6):3040.
doi: 10.3390/ijms23063040.

On the Efficacy of ZnO Nanostructures against SARS-CoV-2

Maria Chiara Sportelli  1 , Margherita Izzi  1 , Daniela Loconsole  2 , Anna Sallustio  3 , Rosaria Anna Picca  1 , Roberto Felici  4 , Maria Chironna  2 , Nicola Cioffi  1
Affiliations

On the Efficacy of ZnO Nanostructures against SARS-CoV-2

Maria Chiara Sportelli et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

In 2019, the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), related to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), started spreading around the word, giving rise to the world pandemic we are still facing. Since then, many strategies for the prevention and control of COVID-19 have been studied and implemented. In addition to pharmacological treatments and vaccines, it is mandatory to ensure the cleaning and disinfection of the skin and inanimate surfaces, especially in those contexts where the contagion could spread quickly, such as hospitals and clinical laboratories, schools, transport, and public places in general. Here, we report the efficacy of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) against SARS-CoV-2. NPs were produced using an ecofriendly method and fully characterized; their antiviral activity was tested in vitro against SARS-CoV-2, showing a decrease in viral load between 70% and 90%, as a function of the material's composition. Application of these nano-antimicrobials as coatings for commonly touched surfaces is envisaged.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antiviral; green synthesis; nano-antimicrobials; nasopharyngeal swab; nucleocapsid protein; zinc oxide.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
UV/Vis spectra of (a) CTAB-, (b) PDDA-, and (c) PSS-stabilized ZnONPs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
TEM micrographs of (a,d) CTAB-, (b,e) PDDA-, and (c,f) PSS-stabilized ZnONPs; SAED patterns of (g) CTAB-, (h) PDDA-, and (i) PSS-stabilized ZnONPs.
Figure 3
Figure 3
X-ray diffraction patterns of (a) CTAB-, (b) PDDA-, and (c) PSS-stabilized ZnONPs. In (d), we report, for comparison, the expected diffraction pattern for pure ZnO powders.
Figure 4
Figure 4
FTIR spectra of (a) CTAB-, (b) PDDA-, and (c) PSS-stabilized ZnONPs.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effectiveness of composite coatings based on PEO, embedding CTAB-, PDDA-, and PSS-capped ZnONPs. Antigen quantification was performed after 24 h of contact. Data were averaged across three replicates, with corresponding standard deviations. Control experiments on bare PEO did not show any change in antigen quantification.
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