Virucidal action of photogenerated pink phenothiazine radical cation impregnated in cotton fabric and polypropylene face mask

Author(s)

Martins-Nascimento, Lilian S. ; Brito, Adrianne M. M. ; Bronzato, Julia D. ; Oliveira, Martha T. ; Costa, Silgia A. ; Costa, Sirlene M. ; Nascimento, Otaciro R. ; Nantes, Iseli L.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY; v. 445, p. 10-pg., 2023-11-01.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the interest in the development of self-disinfecting materials. In this innovative study, cotton and polypropylene fabrics impregnated with the photochemically generated 10H-phenothiazine (PHT) radical cation (PHT & BULL;+) gained highly effective virucidal properties. The effectiveness of PHT & BULL;+ adsorption was demonstrated by advanced analytical techniques, including electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), UV-visible, and FT-Raman spectroscopies that confirmed the presence of PHT & BULL;+ in the fabrics, even after washing and a re-exposure to light. Colorimetric test evidenced PHT & BULL;+ in the cotton fabric even after 2 months in the dark. Viral inactivation assays were performed with the fabrics treated with PHT. Results of qPCR showed that fabrics impregnated with PHT & BULL;+ were highly effective at reducing the viral genome compared to untreated fabrics. PHT & BULL;+ destroys the virus by an oxidative attack on the viral envelope, evidenced by the quenching of the EPR signal of fabrics exposed to a model of the virus envelope. Also, cryo-transmission electron microscopy captured stunning images of virus destruction caused by the oxidative attack of PHT & BULL;+ on the virus envelope. Overall, this study represents a significant advance in developing self-disinfecting materials and could have farreaching implications for the fight against viral infections. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/02317-2 - Interfaces in materials: electronic, magnetic, structural and transport properties
• Grantee: Adalberto Fazzio
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants