Antiviral potential of ViRaTon^PBS system against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses

Surface-mediated transmission is a critical pathway for viral spread. Traditional disinfection methods can be effective but require repeated application.

This study investigated the antiviral efficacy of the ViRaTon^{Powered_By_Shycocan} (ViRaTon^PBS) system designed to offer continuous, contact-free disinfection in real-world settings by delivering hyper-charged photoelectrons.

ViRaTon^PBS was tested against enveloped viruses (influenza virus type A [H1N1], and Herpes simplex virus type 1 [HSV-1]) and non-enveloped viruses (murine norovirus type 1 [MNV-1] and human adenovirus type 5 [HAdV-5]) on stainless steel, glass, and laminate surfaces at distances of 1 and 5 m and exposure times of 5, 15, and 30 min. Viral infectivity was assessed using 50% tissue culture inhibitory assay/mL and plaque assays.

ViRaTon^PBS demonstrated a significant reduction in the infectivity of H1N1, HSV-1, and MNV-1 in a manner dependent on exposure time, surface type, and distance. At 1-m distance for 30 min, viral reductions on stainless steel reached 99.2% for H1N1, 96.7% for HSV-1, and 94.7% for MNV-1. At 5 m, virus reductions persisted but were moderately decreased (e.g. 91.9% reduction for H1N1 on steel). In contrast, ViRaTon^PBS showed no significant antiviral activity against HAdV-5 under any test condition, including at 0.5 m for 45 min, indicating that its effectiveness may be limited against certain non-enveloped viruses.

Overall, this system showed strong potential for continuous use in healthcare, transportation, educational, and other indoor public environments.