Transparent Anti-SARS COV-2 Film from Copper(I) Oxide Incorporated in Zeolite Nanoparticles
Sureerat Jampa, Chalita Ratanatawanate, Wittaya Pimtong, Sasitorn Aueviriyavit, Varissara Chantho, Siwapech Sillapaprayoon, Chanikarn Kunyanee, Choochart Warin, Jirasak Gamonchuang, Pisist Kumnorkaew
Abstract
The high antibacterial and antiviral performance of synthesized copper(I) oxide (Cu2O) incorporated in zeolite nanoparticles (Cu-Z) was determined. Various Cu contents (1–9 wt %) in solutions were loaded in the zeolite matrix under neutral conditions at room temperature. All synthesized Cu-Z nanoparticles showed high selectivity of the cuprous oxide, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. An advantage of the prepared Cu-Z over the pristine Cu2O nanoparticles was its high thermal stability. The 7 and 9 wt % Cu contents (07Cu-Z and 09Cu-Z) exhibited the best activities to deactivate Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The film coated with 07Cu-Z nanoparticles also had high antiviral activities against porcine coronavirus (porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, PEDV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Specifically, the 07Cu-Z-coated film could reduce 99.93% of PEDV and 99.94% of SARS-CoV-2 viruses in 5 min of contact time, which were higher efficacies and faster than those of any previously reported works. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 virus film was coated on a low-cost PET or PVC film. A very small amount of cuprous oxide in zeolite was used to fabricate the antivirus film; therefore, the film was more transparent (79.4% transparency) than the cuprous oxide film or other commercial products. The toxicity of 07Cu-Z nanoparticles was determined by a toxicity test on zebrafish embryo and a skin irritation test to reconstruct a human epidermis (RhE) model. It was found that the impact on the aquatic environment and human skin was lower than that of the pristine Cu2O.