Cold atmospheric plasma for SARS-CoV-2 inactivation

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Plasma Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains viable on surfaces for extended periods, posing a significant transmission risk.
• Current disinfection methods may be limited in efficacy or material compatibility for various frequently touched surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) as a novel inactivation method for SARS-CoV-2 on diverse materials.
• To establish CAP as a safe and effective strategy for preventing viral transmission from contaminated surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Application of argon-based cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) to SARS-CoV-2 inoculated on surfaces.
• Testing inactivation efficacy across multiple materials: plastic, metal, cardboard, and various leathers (basketball, football, baseball).

Main Results:

• CAP demonstrated efficient inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 across all tested surfaces.
• The method proved effective on materials with frequent human contact, including composite and genuine leathers.

Conclusions:

• Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) presents a significant milestone as a safe and effective technology for SARS-CoV-2 inactivation.
• This study opens new avenues for scientific, engineering, and medical communities in combating COVID-19 and future viral threats.