Antiviral Activity of Graphene–Silver Nanocomposites against Non-Enveloped and Enveloped Viruses

Abstract

The discovery of novel antiviral materials is important because many infectious diseases are caused by viruses. Silver nanoparticles have demonstrated strong antiviral activity, and graphene is a potential antimicrobial material due to its large surface area, high carrier mobility, and biocompatibility. No studies on the antiviral activity of nanomaterials on non-enveloped viruses have been reported. To investigate the antiviral activity of graphene oxide (GO) sheets and GO sheets with silver particles (GO-Ag) against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, feline coronavirus (FCoV) with an envelope and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) without an envelope were chosen. The morphology and sizes of GO and GO-Ag were characterized by transmission, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. A virus inhibition assay was used to identify the antiviral activity of GO and GO-Ag. Go-Ag inhibited 25% of infection by FCoV and 23% by IBDV, whereas GO only inhibited 16% of infection by FCoV but showed no antiviral activity against the infection by IBDV. Further application of GO and GO-Ag can be considered for personal protection equipment to decrease the transmission of viruses.

Can Nanotechnology and Materials Science Help the Fight against SARS-CoV-2?

“…), and photocatalysts (TiO 2 , CdS, MnS 2 , etc.) [65]. GO grafted with metal nanoparticles has been investigated as a potential treatment for PPE [66].…”

“…GO grafted with metal nanoparticles has been investigated as a potential treatment for PPE [66]. Specifically, it is known that silver and copper nano-based systems loaded on GO are very effective against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses [65,67]. Anti-influenza copper oxide-loaded polypropylene respirators were proposed in 2010; Borkow et al demonstrated that copper oxide-impregnated masks safely reduced the risk of influenza virus environmental contamination, without altering the filtration capabilities of the masks [68].…”

Nano-based approach to combat emerging viral (NIPAH virus) infection

“…Overall they concluded that GO in its conjugated form that is GO-AgNPs could inhibit both the virus that is FCoV and IBDV effectively. 131 After diagnosis and therapy the next arising huddle is drug resistance that soon must be focused and acted accordingly. With this intention Li et al, after much evaluations and strategic understanding the drawbacks of conventional and nano-based antiviral, designed nanoparticulated system by decorating amantadine (AM) on surface of selenium NPs (SeNPs).…”

Biomedical Science to Tackle the COVID-19 Pandemic: Current Status and Future Perspectives

“…The reduction of the coronavirus persistence on PPE surfaces can be accomplished by preventing the adhesion of the respiratory droplets onto the material surfaces [ 100 , 101 ]. To this end, metal oxides have been employed on different types of surfaces to induce biocidal effects over pathogens, as it is discussed below [ 65 , 66 , 67 , 69 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 ]. Copper oxide (CuO) is one of the compounds that has been used to design PPE with biocidal properties, such as respiratory face masks [ 67 , 68 , 69 , 114 ].…”