Nanocoating of cement-based surface with antiviral properties
Authors: Prof. Asoc. Dr. Arjan KORPA, Prof. Dr. Partizan Malkaj, Prof. Dr. Spiro Drushku, Prof. Asoc. Dr. Ilirjana Boci, Prof. As. Dr. Arianit Reka
Surface contamination by COVID-19 is currently a major public health concern. Smart coatings on building surfaces using TiO2/ZnO/CuO nanoparticles supported in zeolite could effectively curb this growing threat. The antiviral properties of zeolite powders synthesized from fly ash amended with metal ions will be assessed using human coronavirus. The studies reveal that human coronaviruses can persist on inanimate surfaces like concrete, metal, glass or plastic for up to 9 days. Although it is known that surface contamination can play a role in nosocomial infection, the extent to which contaminated surfaces contribute to the overall problem is uncertain. The results of the use of zeolites in medicine are based on research carried out by renowned world scientists in the field of pharmacological medicine. Zeolites are porous minerals with high absorbency and ion-exchange capacity. Their molecular structure is a dense network of AlO4 and SiO4 that generates cavities where water and other polar molecules or ions are inserted/exchanged. The antiviral properties of zeolite (sodium aluminosilicate) powders amended with metal ions have been assessed using human coronavirus [1]. From our previous studies the results show that the zeolites formed from fly ash have a greater catalytic activity than that shown by commercial existing ones which were chosen as basic reference catalysts [2]. A functionalized surface is a surface or coating that has been engineered to interact with its environment in response to defined triggers. Functionalized surfaces can be developed to address needs for medical, commercial and industrial applications. The NanoVir Action plan to develop surfaces that uses nanostructures to prevent virus growth and spread, especially in hospital rooms of contaminated patients. The elevator pitch to the proposal-Nanostructures will help to provide innovative solution in fighting the viruses spread especially the new CoVID-19. The NanoVir Action will prove the combination of adequate zeolite and graphene, titanium dioxide dispersion, and Cu or Zn doping that will enable to a remarkable performance in the degradation of the SARS-CoV-2. In this proposal, we will be followed the strategies: (i) supporting evenly-dispersed TiO2 species onto a proton-containing microporous molecular sieve zeolite type X with variable oxide loadings, with the dual aim of avoiding the formation of TiO2 aggregates, as well as of optimizing the amount of TiO2 content for a maximal degradation of Covid-19 [3]; (ii) supporting Cu / Zn/ Cu+Zn-doped TiO2 species onto type X zeolite and graphene in order to have a photocatalyst with high catalytic activity in the deactivization of virus [4] ; (iii) prepare a copper oxide/graphene oxide nanocomposite (Cu/Zn/Cu+Zn with rGO) for catalysis [5] aiming at improving the adsorption properties of the microporous support towards COVID19. Thanks to a cooperative positive effect due to the presence of a zeolite support with enhanced adsorption features, a photocatalytically-active, highly-dispersed TiO2 phase and a dopant (Cu/Zn species) with adequate properties in the catalytic degradation of virus, an improved performance of Cu /Zn + TiO2 on zeolite systems is expected with respect to the current state of the art for similar photocatalysts [3,6,7,8]. The NanoVir advantage will be high effectiveness with the virus inactivation.