The global COVID-19 pandemic has attracted considerable attention
toward innovative methods and technologies for suppressing the
spread of viruses. Transmission
via
contaminated surfaces has been recognized as an important route
for spreading SARS-CoV-2. Although significant efforts have been
made to develop antibacterial surface coatings, the literature
remains scarce for a systematic study on broad-range antiviral
coatings. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of
the antiviral materials and coatings that could be implemented
for suppressing the spread of SARS-CoV-2
via
contaminated surfaces. We discuss the mechanism of operation and
effectivity of several types of inorganic and organic materials,
in the bulk and nanomaterial form, and assess the possibility of
implementing these as antiviral coatings. Toxicity and
environmental concerns are also discussed for the presented
approaches. Finally, we present future perspectives with regards
to emerging antimicrobial technologies such as omniphobic
surfaces and assess their potential in suppressing
surface-mediated virus transfer. Although some of these emerging
technologies have not yet been tested directly as antiviral
coatings, they hold great potential for designing the next
generation of antiviral surfaces.
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