Inactivation of Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Diverse RNA and DNA Viruses on Three-Dimensionally Printed Surgical Mask Materials

Abstract

Background: Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a critical need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alternative sources of surgical masks, including 3D-printed approaches that may be reused, are urgently needed to prevent PPE shortages. Few data exist identifying decontamination strategies to inactivate viral pathogens and retain 3D-printing material integrity. Objective of Study: Test viral disinfection methods on 3D-printing materials. Methods: The virucidal activity of common disinfectants (10% bleach, quaternary ammonium sanitizer, 3% hydrogen peroxide, or 70% isopropanol and exposure to heat (50oC, and 70oC) were tested on four 3D-printed materials used in the healthcare setting, including one used in a surgical mask design developed by the Veterans Health Administration. Inactivation was assessed for several clinically relevant RNA and DNA pathogenic viruses including SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1. Results: SARS-CoV-2 and all viruses tested were completely inactivated by a single application of bleach, ammonium quaternary compounds, or hydrogen peroxide. Similarly, exposure to dry heat (70oC) for 30 minutes completely inactivated all viruses tested. In contrast, 70% isopropanol reduced viral titers significantly less well following a single application. Inactivation did not interfere with material integrity of the 3D-printed materials. Conclusions: Several standard decontamination approaches effectively disinfected 3D-printed materials. These approaches were effective in the inactivation SARS-CoV-2, its surrogates and other clinically relevant viral pathogens. The decontamination of 3D printed surgical mask materials may be useful during crisis situations where surgical mask supplies are limited.

COVID-19 global pandemic planning: Dry heat incubation and ambient temperature fail to consistently inactivate SARS-CoV-2 on N95 respirators

“…10 Other studies have described inactivation of surrogate viruses with DHI. 7,11 Our findings suggest that the use of surrogate pathogens may not faithfully represent the efficacy of various methods on SARS-Cov-2 inactivation and that experimental variations could affect inactivation efficacy. Although inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 was not determined in that study, several other previous studies performed on the related SARS-CoV or Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS) indicated that thermal disinfection of a liquid solution at 60 C for 30 min and 65 C for 10 to 15 min reduced viral infectivity by !…”

Methods to disinfect and decontaminate SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review of in vitro studies

“…A total of 27 studies were included in this review after screening and reviewing potentially relevant studies (as shown in Figure 1 ). 5 – 31 …”

Ozone Treatment Is Insufficient to Inactivate SARS-CoV-2 Surrogate under Field Conditions

“…Biosafety issues disqualified the application of any human coronavirus; therefore, murine hepatitis virus was selected for this study. The virus is a non-pathogenic human representative of betacoronaviruses, with similar virion architecture as SARS-CoV-2, which is commonly used as a reference model for this BSL3+ pathogen [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”

“…Due to biosafety issues and the field nature of this study, the use of human pathogens was not feasible. However, it is common to use low-pathogenic surrogate viruses as models, especially in studies addressing environmental stability and decontamination efficacy [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 46 ]. While such an approach has its drawback, it allows for real-world study that is superior to artificial laboratory conditions.…”

“…Hence, the other nonpathogenic for humans betacoronavirus, i.e., murine hepatitis virus (MHV), was selected as the surrogate [ 31 , 32 ]. MHV is also a betacoronavirus, sharing genetic and morphological similarity with SARS-CoV-2, and it has been repeatedly used as a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate in other studies [ 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”