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，其中之一是接触被SARS-CoV-2病毒污染的表面。最近，美国疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）表示，当SARS-CoV-2病毒与铜表面接触时，其衰减速度比与不锈钢接触快一个数量级，比与塑料接触快两倍。大多数共享的公共表面是由金属（如钢、铝）和塑料（如聚氯乙烯、复合材料、橡胶）制成的。扶手、座椅、门把手和门把手是公共交通工具、公园和商场中常见的用手触摸的表面。如果提高表面的消毒率，活性病毒传播的机会就会大大减少。随着美国在当前大流行期间重新开放，COVID-19和季节性流感卷土重来之间的复合效应的真正可能性可能是毁灭性的，需要立即解决。虽然从长远来看，可以考虑替代抗病毒材料来取代公共表面，但对现有公共表面的短期解决方案至关重要。在本研究中，我们将通过冷喷涂技术开发抗病毒铜合金粉末在现有公共表面的现场涂层技术；一种可以立即广泛交付的技术。

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.