Transparent Anti-SARS COV-2 Film from Copper(I) Oxide Incorporated in Zeolite Nanoparticles

Abstract

The high antibacterial and antiviral performance of synthesized copper(I) oxide (Cu 2 O) incorporated in zeolite nanoparticles (Cu-Z) was determined. Various Cu contents (1−9 wt %) in solutions were loaded in the zeolite matrix under neutral conditions at room temperature. All synthesized Cu-Z nanoparticles showed high selectivity of the cuprous oxide, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. An advantage of the prepared Cu-Z over the pristine Cu 2 O nanoparticles was its high thermal stability. The 7 and 9 wt % Cu contents (07Cu-Z and 09Cu-Z) exhibited the best activities to deactivate Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Grampositive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The film coated with 07Cu-Z nanoparticles also had high antiviral activities against porcine coronavirus (porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, PEDV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Specifically, the 07Cu-Z-coated film could reduce 99.93% of PEDV and 99.94% of SARS-CoV-2 viruses in 5 min of contact time, which were higher efficacies and faster than those of any previously reported works. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 virus film was coated on a low-cost PET or PVC film. A very small amount of cuprous oxide in zeolite was used to fabricate the antivirus film; therefore, the film was more transparent (79.4% transparency) than the cuprous oxide film or other commercial products. The toxicity of 07Cu-Z nanoparticles was determined by a toxicity test on zebrafish embryo and a skin irritation test to reconstruct a human epidermis (RhE) model. It was found that the impact on the aquatic environment and human skin was lower than that of the pristine Cu 2 O.

Evaluation of antibacterial activity and influencing factors of normal and nanostructured copper-based materials

“…The antibacterial and antiviral activity of nanostructured copper and its compounds is significantly greater than that of bulk copper and its compounds. This is because surface-exposed copper ions on nanostructure surfaces exhibit much higher activity than those on bulk ones [ [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] ].…”

Optimization of the selective effect of zeolite in the synthesis of Cu2O Nanoparticles

“…[13] Additionally, Jampa and co-workers were able to synthesize zeolite nanoparticles to stabilize Cu 2 O for antibacterial purposes. [14] Despite the diversity of results obtained when synthesizing copper particles using conventional zeolites (whether in the form of oxides or metals), [15,16] there is the possibility of developing a new research area by considering the speci c impact of nanozeolites on this process. In this context, the distinctive adsorption capability of nanozeolites, combined with their unique structural parameters and modi cation of active sites, raises questions about the potential in uence of these characteristics on the formation process of copper particles at the nanoscale.…”