Photocatalyst under visible light irradiation inactivates SARS-CoV-2 on an abiotic surface

Abstract

There is a worldwide attempt to develop prevention strategies against SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Here we examined the effectiveness of visible light-responsive photocatalyst RENECAT on the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 under different temperatures and exposure durations. The viral activation on the photocatalyst-coated glass slides decreased from 5.93∓0.38 logTCID50/ml to 3.05∓ 0.25 logTCID50/ml after exposure to visible light irradiation for 6h at 20 degree C. On the other hand, lighting without the photocatalyst, or the photocatalyst-coat without lighting retained viral stability. Immunoblotting and electron microscopic analyses showed the reduced amounts of spike protein on the viral surface after the photocatalyst treatment. Our data suggest a possible implication of the photocatalyst on the decontamination of the SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments, thereby preventing indirect viral spread.