Synergistic control of viral persistence via wettability and ion release on antiviral coatings

Antiviral coating design remains largely empirical due to the lack of quantitative principles linking interfacial properties to viral persistence under realistic conditions. Here, we establish a survival time-based evaluation framework that captures the drying dynamics of 2-μL virus-containing microdroplets and enables quantitative assessment of antiviral coating performance using viral survival time (duration of infectivity) and survival time reduction rate. Using this framework, we identify surface virus density, defined as infectious virus per unit distribution area, as a physical determinant governing viral persistence. When surface virus density was matched, viral survival times converged irrespective of inoculum level or droplet geometry. Accordingly, viral survival time decreased with decreasing surface virus density, and hydrophilic surface design alone reduced viral survival time by approximately 70-80%. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the initial release rate of antiviral metal ions constitutes a complementary chemical control parameter under rapid-drying conditions. Antiviral coatings incorporating amorphous vanadate glass particles enabled rapid release of copper or silver ions within the first 1-5 min following droplet deposition. By integrating wettability-mediated viral redistribution with rapid ion release, synergistic suppression of viral persistence was achieved, reducing viral survival time relative to uncoated surfaces by up to 97.6% for influenza virus, 98.2% for feline calicivirus, and 94.9% for highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. These findings demonstrate that viral persistence can be predictively controlled through the combined physical regulation of surface virus density and chemical inactivation by rapidly released antiviral agents. This antiviral coating strategy may contribute to reducing contact transmission risks in healthcare, agricultural, and community environments.