Cold Spray Technology for Fast SARS-CoV-2 Disinfection on Public Surfaces: A Major Disruption in the COVID-19 Transmission Chain

加拿大公共卫生部已经确定了COVID-19疾病传播的三种主要机制，其中一种是接触被SARS-CoV-2病毒污染的表面。最近，疾病控制中心（CDC）表明，当SARS-CoV-2病毒应用于铜表面时，它的衰变速度比接触不锈钢时快一个数量级，比接触塑料时快两倍。大多数共享的公共表面由金属制成（例如，钢，铝）和塑料（例如，PVC、复合材料、橡胶）。扶手、座椅、门把手和门把手是公共交通、公园和商场中常见的手触摸共享表面的示例。如果表面的消毒率增加，则活性病毒传播的机会大大减少。随着国家在当前的大流行期间重新开放，COVID-19和季节性流感死灰复燃之间的复合效应的真实的可能性可能是毁灭性的，需要立即加以解决。虽然从长远来看，可以考虑使用替代性抗病毒材料来取代公共表面，但对现有公共共享表面的近期解决方案至关重要。在这项研究中，我们将开发通过冷喷涂在现有公共表面上涂覆抗病毒铜合金粉末的技术;该技术可以立即广泛交付。

Canada Public Health has identified three main mechanisms for transmission of COVID-19 disease, one of which is touching surfaces contaminated by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Recently, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) showed that when SARS-CoV-2 virus is applied to copper surfaces, it decays at a rate one order of magnitude faster than when in contact with stainless steel, and an extra two fold faster than when in contact with plastic. Most shared public surfaces are made of metals (e.g., steel, aluminum) and plastics (e.g., PVC, composites, rubber). Handrails, seats, doorknobs, and door handles are examples of common shared surfaces in public transportation, parks, and malls that are touched by hand. If the disinfection rate of the surface is increased, the chance of transmission of active viruses is reduced considerably. As the nation moves to reopen during the current pandemic, the very real possibility of a compound effect between a resurgence of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza could be devastating and needs to be addressed immediately. While alternative antiviral materials may be considered to replace public surfaces in the long term, a near-term solution for existing common shared surfaces is of paramount importance. In this research we will develop the technology for onsite coating of existing public surfaces with antiviral copper alloy powder through cold spray coating; a technology that can be delivered immediately and broadly.