Electrospun Nanofibers Embedded with Copper Oxide Nanoparticles to Improve Antiviral Function

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Developing effective antiviral surfaces is crucial for preventing global epidemic spread.
• Silver and copper nanoparticles are recognized for their antiviral properties.
• Existing antiviral strategies require enhancement for broader application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and evaluate copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticle-incorporated nanofibers for viral inactivation.
• To investigate the fabrication process and antiviral efficacy of the developed nanofibers.
• To compare the antiviral performance of CuO nanoparticle-incorporated nanofibers with bare CuO nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of CuO nanoparticle-incorporated nanofibers using electrospinning of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and CuO nanoparticles.
• Exposure of CuO nanoparticles via oxygen plasma etching of the PVP nanofiber surface.
• Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometry (FETEM/EDS).
• Antiviral efficacy testing using H1N1 virus quantified by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Main Results:

• Optimized electrospinning and oxygen plasma etching conditions were determined.
• CuO nanoparticle-incorporated nanofibers demonstrated significant inactivation of H1N1 virus.
• Approximately 70% of H1N1 viruses were inactivated after a 4-hour incubation with the nanofibers at 10² pfu/mL.
• The developed nanofibers showed comparable or improved antiviral efficacy compared to bare CuO nanoparticles.

Conclusions:

• The developed CuO nanoparticle-incorporated nanofibers exhibit notable antiviral efficacy against H1N1 virus.
• This nanotechnology offers a promising approach for creating effective antiviral surfaces.
• The findings are expected to contribute to global health by aiding in the prevention of epidemic spread.