A team of scientists from Ames National Laboratory, Iowa State University, and the University of Buffalo has developed an antimicrobial spray that deposits a layer of copper nanowires on surfaces. The researchers produced two different sprays containing copper nanowires (CuNW) and copper-zinc nanowires (CuZnNW).
They showed high success in the SARS CoV-2 virus
Beginning in the 2400s BC, humans have been using the antimicrobial properties of copper to treat and prevent infections and diseases. The copper ion can penetrate through the membrane of a virus, ending the virus’s self-replication function.
The team developed a spray using copper nanowires based on past work by Ames National Laboratory that created a copper ink for printing circuits on flexible electronic devices. The efficacy of two types of sprays developed within the scope of the study were also evaluated.
In both sprays, the wires are contained in a carrier solution such as water or ethanol. The spray, which can be applied to surfaces such as plastic, glass and stainless steel, is sprayed in a thin layer and left at room temperature to dry, and an antimicrobial coating is formed at the end of the process.
Compared to the copper disc on the SARS CoV-2 virus in the tests performed, the sprays were equally effective at inactivating the virus, while the copper disc took 40 minutes to inactivate the virus. In contrast, the sprays provided the same effect in 20 minutes.
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In the comparison between the two sprays, in the first 10 minutes, the spray containing pure copper nanowires performed better than the spray containing copper-zinc nanowires, but the copper-zinc coating remained effective for longer than the pure copper coating.
Researchers say that the developed sprays can be used to protect against many different microbes, apart from being used to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
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