Functionalized Photocatalytic Nanocoatings for Inactivating COVID-19 Virus Residing on Surfaces of Public and Healthcare Facilities

Abstract

: The current COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected the large population across the globe by serious respiratory illness and death. Since the medicine for this new disease is yet to discover, the treatment options against pandemic COVID-19 are very limited and unsatisfactory. Further, the hospitals, wherethe COVID-19 patients are admitted for treatment, are the major source of the spread of this virus, as it survives on the surfaces of inanimate objects for days. Therefore, hospitals have become hotspots for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The non-availability of quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and exposure to severe COVID patients have been major factors for the infection in millions of healthcare workers. However, developing an effective medicine has remained challenging due to its unpredictable mutation rate. Here, this article describes functionalized photocatalytic nanocoatings to destroy the COVID-19 virus, which can be applied on the surface of inanimate objects, such as paper, cloth, glass, wood, ceramic, metallic, and polymeric surfaces. With the supporting experimental results, various possible ways of killing the virus and its relevant mechanism are discussed. This article provides new insights for developing nano solutions to address this COVID-19 issue.