Graphene-based surface coating to prevent fomite transmission of COVID-19

许多病毒，如SARS-CoV-2，是通过感染者打喷嚏、咳嗽或说话时喷出的呼吸道飞沫传播的。这些液滴可以直接落在表面，如果被感染者触摸，也可以传播到门把手等表面。这种病毒通常会在几个小时至三天内保持传染性，具体取决于表面。如果一个人接触到受污染的表面，然后接触到他们的嘴、眼睛或鼻子，病毒就会通过融合病毒传播。曼纳德博士是渥太华大学物理系的材料专家，他与安大略省一家专注于石墨烯材料开发的公司Zen Graphene Solutions Ltd.之间的这项联盟合作，将专注于开发一种可在接触时杀死病毒并防止其传播的涂层材料。这种涂层利用了纳米材料的抗病原体特性，更具体地说，石墨烯是一种原子薄的碳层，是研究最多的二维(2D)材料之一。抗病原体的机制是基于石墨烯的原子尺度边缘，它有效地充当纳米剃刀刺穿细胞膜，从而灭活病毒以及其他类型的病原体，如细菌和真菌。主要项目成果之一是允许科学家开发具有更有效和更可靠的病原体杀灭表面的消费和保健产品。当在医院、长期护理中心或其他公共场所使用时，这些抗病毒材料将减少霍乱传播并减缓感染率--从而挽救许多人的生命。

Many viruses, like SARS-CoV-2, are transmitted by respiratory droplets sprayed out when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. These droplets can either land directly on surfaces or be transmitted to surfaces like doorknobs if touched by an infected person. The virus, which often remains infectious for several hours up to three days depending upon the surface, can then spread by fomite transmission if a person touches a contaminated surface and then touches their mouth, eyes or nose. This Alliance collaboration between Dr. Ménard, a material specialist in the department of Physics at uOttawa, and ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd., an Ontario-based company focusing on the development of graphene-based materials, will focus on developing a coating material that kills viruses on contact and prevent their transmission. The coating harnesses the anti-pathogen properties of nanomaterials, and more particularly graphene, an atomic-thin carbon layer, which is one of the most investigated bidimensional (2D) materials. The anti-pathogen mechanism is based on the atomic-scale edges of graphene that effectively act as nano-razors piercing the cellular membrane and, hence inactivating viruses as well as other types of pathogens such as bacteria and fungi. One of the main project outcomes is to allow scientists to develop consumer and health care products with more effective and reliable pathogen-killing surfaces. When used in hospitals, long-term care centres or other public spaces, these antiviral materials will reduce fomite transmission and slow the rate of infection - thus saving many lives.