Inactivation of ambient virues using Engineered Water Nanostructures

 描述（由申请人提供）：尽管在卫生、环境卫生以及疫苗和抗生素的开发方面取得了进展，但传染病每年仍影响数亿人，并造成严重的健康后果。传染病可以通过空气（空气传播）或通过表面（污染物）传播。由于抗药性细菌的进化，传染病的死亡人数进一步复杂化，而流感病毒的抗原不断变化给疫苗开发带来困难。控制这些 感染仍然是一个挑战，目前所依赖的干预措施存在重大缺陷，包括自身的健康风险。新的、创新的、有效的、低成本的并且最重要的是无化学品的、“绿色”技术，具有比现有技术更少的缺点，在对抗感染的战斗中是迫切需要的。研究人员一直在研究这种基于纳米技术的新方法。它依赖于通过电喷雾高纯水合成工程水纳米结构（EWNS）。初步数据表明，EWNS具有独特的物理化学和生物学特性。最重要的是，它们是高度移动的，可以通过破坏它们的膜在两个表面和空气中传播细菌。在这里，我们计划评估和优化EWNS作为一种替代的，无化学品的方法，以消除空气和环境表面上的病毒。病原体-EWNS相互作用将使用各种经过验证的最先进的分析方法进行研究 和生物测定。该项目的具体目标是：AIM 1：开发和表征高通量EWNS生成平台，使用相关生物测定模型研究空气和表面中的纳米病毒相互作用。该系统将用于EWNS的控制合成和性能表征。EWNS生成平台将实现EWNS性质修饰（大小、表面电荷、ROS含量、寿命），并研究其对病毒灭活过程的影响。 目标2：将使用体外和体内感染性试验评估暴露于EWNS后雾化或表面沉积流感病毒（2009 H1N1）的灭活情况并进行优化。将使用最先进的分析方法研究EWNS特性和电喷雾操作参数对灭活潜力和机制的作用。 在这些研究中产生的信息将导致这种新的，无化学品的方法用于控制病毒传播的传染病，如流感的应用开发。拟议的项目涵盖了我们的研究人员拥有专业知识的学科：纳米颗粒合成，表征和环境纳米技术（Demokritou），细胞生物学，呼吸病理生理学，空气生物学和传染病（Kobzik，McDevitt）。这种新的无化学品方法如果成功，将降低感染风险，并产生有益的经济和公共卫生影响。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite advances in hygiene, sanitation and the development of vaccines and antibiotics, infectious diseases continue to affect hundreds of millions of people each year with serious health outcomes. Infectious diseases can be transmitted either by air (airborne) or via surfaces (fomites). The toll of infectious disease is further complicated through the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, while the constant antigenic shift of influenza viruses creates difficulties for vaccine development. Control of these infections remains a challenge and currently relies on interventions that have significant shortcomings, including their own health risks. New, innovative, effective, low cost and most importantly chemical-free, 'green' technologies, possessing fewer drawbacks than the existing ones, are urgently in need in the battle against infections. The investigators have been working on such a novel nanotechnology-based method. It relies on the synthesis of Engineered Water Nanostructures (EWNS) by electrospraying high purity water. Preliminary data indicate that EWNS possess unique physicochemical and biological properties. Most importantly, they are highly mobile and can inactivate bacteria on both surfaces and in the air through damage to their membrane. Here, we plan to assess and optimize EWNS as an alternative, chemical-free method to inactivate viruses in air and on environmental surfaces. The pathogen-EWNS interactions will be investigated using a variety of validated, state-of-the-art analytical methods and biological assays. The specific aims of this project are: AIM1: Development and characterization of a high-throughput EWNS generation platform to study the nano-virus interaction in air and surfaces using relevant bioassay models. The system will be used for the controlled synthesis and property characterization of EWNS. The EWNS generation platform will enable for EWNS property modification (size, surface charge, ROS content, lifetime) and study their effect on the viral inactivation process. AIM 2: Inactivation of aerosolized or surface deposited influenza virus (2009 H1N1) following exposure to EWNS will be assessed and optimized using in vitro and in vivo infectivity assays. The role of EWNS properties and electrospray operational parameters on the inactivation potential and mechanisms will be investigated using state of the art analytical methods. The information generated in these studies will lead to the development of applications of this novel, chemical-free approach for the control of virally transmitted infectious diseases such as Influenza. The proposed project spans disciplines in which our investigators have expertise: Nanoparticle synthesis, characterization and environmental nanotechnology (Demokritou), cellular biology, respiratory pathophysiology, aerobiology and infectious diseases (Kobzik, McDevitt). Such a novel chemical free approach, if successful, will reduce risk of infection and have a beneficial economic and public health impact.