Plasma Disinfection: Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Attenuates SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Binding to ACE2 Protein and the RNA

Abstract

Cold atmospheric pressure (CAP) plasma has a profound effect on protein-protein interactions. In this work, we have highlighted the deactivation of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike protein by CAP plasma treatment. Complete deactivation of spike protein binding to the human ACE2 protein was observed within exposure time of 5 minutes and which is correlated to the higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide formation due to the interaction with the reactive oxygen species present in the plasma. On the other hand, it is established that CAP plasma is also capable of degrading RNA of SARS-CoV-2 virus which is also linked to hydrogen peroxide concentration. Results of this work could be useful in designing plasma-based disinfection systems over those based on environmentally hazardous chemicals-based disinfections.