"Viral Clearance of Cupric-Modified Phyllosilicate Minerals Against Env" by Vaishali Sharma, Sneha Singh et al.
 

Viral Clearance of Cupric-Modified Phyllosilicate Minerals Against Enveloped and Non-Enveloped Viruses

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2025

Abstract

The effectiveness of copper-based composites, specifically cupric ion (Cu2+)-modified phyllosilicate minerals, was evaluated in reducing the concentration of infectious agents in the environment while minimizing metal ion release. The phyllosilicate minerals, vermiculite, exfoliated and unexfoliated, and sepiolite, all modified with Cu2+, were compared with copper oxide for their antiviral activity against non-enveloped porcine parvovirus (PPV) and enveloped human coronavirus 229E (HCoV). Sepiolite effectively removed PPV and HCoV from the solution, regardless of Cu2+ presence, while vermiculite showed substantial viral clearance only when Cu2+ was present. The kinetics of viral clearance was fast, with complete clearance within one hour in many cases. To better understand the mechanism of virus clearance, EDTA was added at different times during the clearance study for PPV. EDTA prevented virus clearance in all vermiculite samples, whereas sepiolite containing copper still demonstrated substantial virus clearance. The addition of BSA before the virus binding was able to block binding in all cases. It was determined that binding is the key mechanism, and PPV can be eluted from the minerals with EDTA and still be infectious. This study provides the potent antiviral mechanisms of Cu2+-modified phyllosilicate minerals, offering insights for designing paints and plastics for high-touch surfaces to reduce viral transmission and enhance public health significantly.

Publication Title

Colloids and Interfaces

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