A New Sterilization Strategy Using TiO2 Nanotubes for Production of Free Radicals that Eliminate Viruses and Application of a Treatment Strategy to Combat Infections Caused by Emerging SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Synthesized titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) nanotubes were used for the disinfection of new emerging corona virus-19 (SARS-CoV-2) in this study. The newly synthesized TiO2-NPs (nanotubes) were characterized by chemical spectroscopic analysis Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet FT-IR and UV. The chemical purity and Zeta potential distribution of the TiO2-NPs (nanotubes) were evaluated to confirm their nano-range, and their surface morphology was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The antiviral activity of the TiO2-NPs (nanotubes) against SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated using 10% (Dimethyl sulfoxide) DMSO and dist.H2O using a cytotoxicity assay and inhibitory concentration assay (to determine the cytotoxic half concentration CC50 and half maximal inhibitory concentration IC50). The current results confirmed that TiO2-NPs exhibit strong anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity at very low cytotoxic concentrations in vitro with a non-significant selectivity index (CC50/IC50 ≤ 1). The obtained results indicate that TiO2-NPs and nanotubes have potent antiviral activity at a very low concentrations (IC50 = 568.6 ng/mL), with a weak cytotoxic effect on the cellular host (CC50 = 399.1 ng/mL). Thus, we highly recommend the use of TiO2-NPs (nanotubes) in vitro and in wall coatings as a potent disinfectant to combat SARS-CoV-2 with little irritation of the cellular hosts. Furthermore, we also recommend more and excessive prospective studies on the complexation of natural active or natural compounds with TiO2-NPs (nanotubes) to minimize their cytotoxicity, enhance their antiviral activity, and increase their inhibition of SARS-CoV-2.

Selenium/Chitosan-Folic Acid Metal Complex Ameliorates Hepatic Damage and Oxidative Injury in Male Rats Exposed to Sodium Fluoride

“…In their study, the researchers confirmed that pretreatment with quercetin encapsulated in chitosan-alginate nanoparticles, which is similar in formula to our novel complex, had effective protection against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in male Wistar rats. The peroxidation of membrane lipids has been recognized as an important mechanism of oxygen/free radical toxicity [47]. Therefore, lipid peroxidation is a sensitive marker of ROS-mediated cell damage.…”

Advances in Nanomaterial-Based Platforms to Combat COVID-19: Diagnostics, Preventions, Therapeutics, and Vaccine Developments

“…Even at low concentrations, TiO 2 -NPs can demonstrate antiviral activity, as depicted by recent in vitro studies. 79 , 80 TiO 2 –NPs under ultraviolet (UV) light produce a strong oxidative effect and utilizing the property can be used as a photocatalytic disinfectant. 81 TiO 2 –NPs activate during the photocatalytic reaction and generate hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, thus reducing glycosylation of the main protease of the virus.…”

Nanoparticle Delivery Platforms for RNAi Therapeutics Targeting COVID-19 Disease in the Respiratory Tract

“…It has been also found that extracellular vesicles (EVs) have the potential to transport and load antiviral agents into cells to assist in the treatment of COVID-19 [ 219 ]. Besides, although a few newly synthesized NPs, such as zinc oxide NPs (ZnO NPs) and titanium dioxide NPs (TiO 2 NPs), are weakly cytotoxic to host cells, they have been recently applied as a powerful disinfectant to combat SARS-CoV-2 due to their potent antiviral activity [ 220 , 221 ].…”