COVID-19 Prevention: Hybrid Polymer/Photoactive Ceramic Self-Disinfecting Coating

这个为期 12 个月的项目旨在了解并提出实用的解决方案，以防止通过接触受污染的表面传播 COVID-19。它解决了对加拿大和 Bioastra Technologies 来说至关重要的挑战，Bioastra Technologies 是一家专门从事健康、机器人和环境应用智能材料的加拿大公司。 BioAstra 最近被魁北克政府指定为一项“基本服务”，旨在重新利用现有的智能涂层和智能可穿戴技术来对抗 COVID-19。该项目的目标是通过喷雾使各种类型的高接触表面功能化，形成耐用的免洗涂层，以灭活 COVID-19 和其他病毒。具体来说，我们将开发一种基于 Bioastra 专有溶胶-凝胶配方与金属氧化物纳米颗粒 (NP) 光催化剂相结合的复合材料。由于薄膜的复合性质，可以获得更好的抗病毒性能以及长期稳定性。我们预计光催化剂材料的抗病毒特性与某些带电聚合物固有的病毒灭活特性及其在喷涂到表面时形成耐用、快速凝固薄膜的能力相结合会产生协同效应。对不同聚合物/纳米颗粒的电荷重组和活性氧（ROS）生成进行系统研究。特别是，将使用 Rosei 教授实验室提供的 Bioastra 快速配方方法和复杂的涂层和表征技术来评估结构-性能关系。这项研究将由 BioAstra 的研发团队和 Rosei 教授密切合作进行，在整个项目期间，Rosei 教授将得到一名博士后研究员的协助。预期的结果将促进人们对光敏表面病毒灭活机制的了解。我们预计最终的喷涂产品将对加拿大的卫生部门和经济产生重大积极影响。

This twelve-month project aims to understand and propose a practical solution to prevent transmission of COVID-19 from contact with contaminated surfaces. It addresses a challenge of crucial importance for Canada and for Bioastra Technologies, a Canadian company specialising in smart materials for health, robotics and environmental applications. BioAstra was recently designated as an "essential service" by the Quebec government to repurpose existing smart coating and smart wearables technology towards the fight against COVID-19. The objective of this project is to functionalize various types of high-contact surfaces with a spray that creates a durable leave-on coating to inactivate COVID-19 and other viruses. Specifically, we will develop a composite based on Bioastra's proprietary sol-gel formulation integrated with metal-oxide nanoparticle (NPs)-based photocatalysts. Due to the composite nature of the film, better anti-viral performance can be obtained coupled with long term-stability. We anticipate a synergist effect arising from the antiviral properties of photocatalyst materials combined with the intrinsic virus-inactivating properties of certain charged polymers and their ability to form a durable, fast-setting film when sprayed on a surface. A systematic study of the charge recombination and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation of the different polymer/NPs will be carried out. In particular, the structure-property relationships will be evaluated using Bioastra's rapid formulation methodology and sophisticated coating and characterization techniques available in Prof. Rosei's Laboratory. This research will be conducted in close collaboration between BioAstra's R&D team and Prof. Rosei who will be assisted by one postdoctoral fellow during the whole duration of the project. The expected outcomes will result in advancing knowledge regarding the mechanism of virus inactivation on photoactive surfaces. We anticipate that the final spray-coating product will have a major positive impact on Canada's health sector and economy.