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Type of clay and glass with potent virus-fighting activity identified

17/01/2022
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A study by Spanish researchers has identified a type of glass and a clay that have a potent virucidal activity. These are low-cost inorganic materials that can be used to decontaminate surfaces, liquids and air containing viral particles. These two materials reduce viral infections by more than 99% within 10 minutes of contact and have been tested against Covid-19, influenza, herpes simplex viruses and adenoviruses. They are also effective against bacteria and fungi. The materials could be used as effective antiviral disinfectants and in the future may assist in the development of antiviral drugs with low or no toxicity.

The results, published in Materials Today Bio (MTBio), are the result of the collaboration of researchers from the Center for Research in Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology (CINN, CSIC-University of Oviedo-Principality of Asturias) and the CEU San Pablo University. Researchers from CISA-CSIC, CIMA (University of Navarra) and the Complutense University of Madrid have also participated.

The researchers have described the remarkable antiviral activity of two types of inorganic materials: a novel soda-lime glass and kaolin, a clay containing silver or copper oxide nanoparticles, which deactivate virus infection. Upon contact with the viruses, these materials cause a physical-chemical reaction that inhibits the growth of these pathogens. The mechanism of action is directly linked to the properties of the material, inducing virus aggregation in the case of glass and adsorption with kaolin-based materials, as well as the ions released into the environment.

"These materials are capable of significantly inhibiting microbiological growth, whether bacterial, fungal or viral, and are perfectly compatible with living beings and the environment," according to CINN researcher Belén Cabal. In addition, "they have other important advantages, such as their high stability and low cost, which makes them exceptionally suitable materials for the prevention and control of diseases of both bacterial and viral origin", states Cabal.

"The strong antiviral properties are capable of reducing viral infection by more than 99% within 10 minutes of contact with these materials. The potent viricidal activity has been tested on viruses with very different physicochemical characteristics, such as the vesicular stomatal virus, of the same family as the rabies virus, the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), adenoviruses, the influenza virus or SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the current pandemic," explains Estanislao Nistal Villán, a researcher at the CEU San Pablo University.

The use of these materials to remove viruses from water or their application in air filters could be used to prevent endemic infections in both farm animals and humans. They can also be used as antiviral disinfectants in current or future pandemic threats.

Palabras clave Clay Glass Medicines Virus Antivirals Research