Antiviral Coatings Research Articles

Rapid virus inactivation by nanoparticles-embedded photodynamic surfaces

The persistent threat of viral epidemics poses significant risks to human health, highlighting the urgent need for antiviral surfaces to mitigate viral transmission through bioaerosols and surface contamination. However, there is still a scarcity of readily accessible antiviral coatings to address this critical concern. In this study, we demonstrate that photodynamic nanoparticle-embedded surfaces can swiftly inactivate both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. We prepared core–shell structured methylene blue (MB)-loaded SiO2 nanoparticles with a high reactive oxygen species (ROS) yield (0.47 ± 0.02). The superior ROS production was maintained after modifying these nanoparticles onto air filter fibers, likely due to the prevention of aggregation-caused quenching effects. Three viruses, including both enveloped and non-enveloped types, were rapidly inactivated within just 12 min (>6 log units) under medium light intensity (660 nm, 30 mW/cm2). Mechanistic studies revealed that envelope glycoproteins are the primary targets for this rapid inactivation. Thus, photodynamic nanoparticle-embedded surfaces offer a straightforward and adaptable strategy in the fight against viral epidemics.

Highly stable, antibacterial and antiviral composites films via improved non-solvent induced phase separation for textile application

Textile composites are ubiquitous in daily life and are one of the main ways in which bacteria and viruses spread. Highly effective antibacterial and antiviral flexible composites are effective for reducing microbe transmission. Herein, we reported an improved nonsolvent-induced phase separation method for the fabrication of flexible textile composites. Cu2O/polyurethane (Cu2OPU) composite films containing antibacterial and antiviral coatings were constructed using a Cu2O-polyvinyl butyral coagulation bath and binary solvent mixtures, yielding a composite that had excellent mechanical properties and stability and the components did not leach out. The as-prepared Cu2OPU composite films exhibited strong antibacterial and antiviral activity against Staphylococcus aureus and the H1N1 virus (above 99.99 % inactivation ratio). What’s more, Cu2OPU has excellent mechanical and environmental stability owing to the strong interfacial adhesion of Cu2O with the polymer matrix. Furthermore, it can withstand multiple washes and be suitable for daily use. Cu2OPU may be sustainably produced with great scalability, which may meet public, home, and textile applications.

Low-Temperature Adaptive Single-Atom Iron Nanozymes against Viruses in the Cold Chain.

Outbreaks of viral infectious diseases, such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza A virus (IAV), pose a great threat to human health. Viral spread is accelerated worldwide by the development of cold chain logistics; Therefore, an effective antiviral approach is required. In this study, it is aimed to develop a distinct antiviral strategy using nanozymes with low-temperature adaptability, suitable for cold chain logistics. Phosphorus (P) atoms are added to the remote counter position of Fe-N-C center to prepare FeN4P2-single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes), exhibiting lipid oxidase (OXD)-like activity at cold chain temperatures (-20, and 4°C). This feature enables FeN4P2-SAzymes to disrupt multiple enveloped viruses (human, swine, and avian coronaviruses, and H1-H11 subtypes of IAV) by catalyzing lipid peroxidation of the viral lipid envelope. Under the simulated conditions of cold chain logistics, FeN4P2-SAzymes are successfully applied as antiviral coatings on outer packaging and personal protective equipment; Therefore, FeN4P2-SAzymes with low-temperature adaptability and broad-spectrum antiviral properties may serve as key materials for developing specific antiviral approaches to interrupt viral transmission through the cold chain.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Saccharum officinarum leaf extract for antiviral paint

Abstract In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized via an eco-friendly approach using an extract from sugarcane leaves (Saccharum officinarum). The optimal synthesis conditions were determined to be a pH of 10, yielding AgNPs with an average size of 11.7 ± 2.8 nm. This was substantiated by UV-vis spectral analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and field emission transmission electron microscope coupling with selected area electron diffraction. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited notable antibacterial efficacy against two prominent pathogens, namely Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 20 and 2.5 ppm, respectively. Further extending the applications of AgNPs, they were successfully integrated into architectural paints at varying concentrations to create antiviral coatings. The addition of AgNPs influenced several properties of the paints, including viscosity, hiding power, and color characteristics. Notably, our findings revealed that the antiviral paint containing 80 ppm of AgNPs effectively hindered virus propagation, exhibiting a remarkable reduction of over 90% when compared to the control, measured by 50% tissue culture infectious dose.

Research Centre for Nano-Materials and Energy Technology (RCNMET), School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, No. 5, Jalan Universiti

Disease epidemics may spread quickly and easily throughout nations and continents in our current global environment, having a devastating effect on public health and the world economy. There are over 513 million people worldwide have been infected and more than 6.2 million have died due to SARS-CoV-2. There are treatments but no cures for most viruses. Nevertheless, the spread of viruses can be limited by introducing antiviral coatings on public area surfaces and personal protective equipment (e.g., face masks). This work aims to fabricate a polymer-based coating with acrylic resin as a binder that possesses great antiviral activity against the Feline coronavirus (FCov). The chosen polymer Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is used as an antiviral agent because it contains “green” chemistry benefits such as non-toxicity, inexpensive, readily recyclable, safe, natural, non-flammable, biocompatible, and biodegradable. The PEG/acrylic coating systems of different weight percentages were coated on the glass substrates by spray-coating method and cured at room temperature for 24 hours. The developed PEG/acrylic coating system that contains 20 wt% of PEG exhibits the highest anti-viral activities, 99.9% against FCov compared to the other weight percentages. From this study, it has been observed that hydrophilicity of the coating plays an important role in the antiviral activity. The developed coating has the hydrophilic property in which the contact angle was measured at 83.28 ± 0.5°. The FTIR reveals that there are no any existing toxic components or new components contained in the coating samples.

A Comparative Study of the Antiviral Properties of Thermally Sprayed Coatings against Human Coronavirus HCoV-229E

For decades, novel viral strains of respiratory tract infections have caused human pandemics and initiated widespread illnesses. The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has raised an urgent need to develop novel antiviral coatings as one of the potential solutions to mitigate the transmission of viral pathogens. Titanium dioxide is considered an excellent candidate for viral disinfection under light irradiation, with the potential to be activated under visible light for indoor applications. This research assessed the antiviral performance of thermally sprayed TiO2 coatings under UVA and ambient light. We also report the antiviral performance of TiO2 composites with other oxides, such as Cu2O and Al2O3, produced by suspension plasma spray, atmospheric plasma spray, and suspension high-velocity oxygen fuel techniques. To evaluate the antiviral performance of the above coatings in a containment level-2 laboratory, a human common cold coronavirus, HCoV-229E, was initially used as a relevant surrogate for SARS-CoV-2. Coatings were also analyzed using SEM and XRD and were classified based on their surface roughness, porosity, and phase composition. Collectively, the thermally sprayed coatings showed comparable or slightly better antiviral activity compared to copper. The most significant level of activity observed was approximately 20% to 50% higher than that of a pure copper plate.

Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 on salt-coated surfaces: an in vitro study

In the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), face masks have become a very important safety measure against the main route of transmission of the virus: droplets and aerosols. Concerns that masks contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 infectious particles could be a risk for self-contamination have emerged early in the pandemic as well as solutions to mitigate this risk. The coating of masks with sodium chloride, an antiviral and non-hazardous to health chemical, could be an option for reusable masks. To assess the antiviral properties of salt coatings deposited onto common fabrics by spraying and dipping, the present study established an in vitro bioassay using three-dimensional airway epithelial cell cultures and SARS-CoV-2 virus. Virus particles were given directly on salt-coated material, collected, and added to the cell cultures. Infectious virus particles were measured by plaque forming unit assay and in parallel viral genome copies were quantified over time. Relative to noncoated material, the sodium chloride coating significantly reduced virus replication, confirming the effectiveness of the method to prevent fomite contamination with SARS-CoV-2. In addition, the lung epithelia bioassay proved to be suitable for future evaluation of novel antiviral coatings.

Engineered Cross-Linked Silane with Urea Polymer Thin Durable Coatings onto Polymeric Films for Controlled Antiviral Release of Activated Chlorine and Essential Oils.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization announced a pandemic attributed to SARS-CoV-2, a novel beta-coronavirus, which spread widely from China. As a result, the need for antiviral surfaces has increased significantly. Here, the preparation and characterization of new antiviral coatings on polycarbonate (PC) for controlled release of activated chlorine (Cl+) and thymol separately and combined are described. Thin coatings were prepared by polymerization of 1-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] urea (TMSPU) in ethanol/water basic solution by modified Stöber polymerization, followed by spreading the formed dispersion onto surface-oxidized PC film using a Mayer rod with appropriate thickness. Activated Cl-releasing coating was prepared by chlorination of the PC/SiO2-urea film with NaOCl through the urea amide groups to form a Cl-amine derivatized coating. Thymol releasing coating was prepared by linking thymol to TMSPU or its polymer via hydrogen bonds between thymol hydroxyl and urea amide groups. The activity towards T4 bacteriophage and canine coronavirus (CCV) was measured. PC/SiO2-urea-thymol enhanced bacteriophage persistence, while PC/SiO2-urea-Cl reduced its amount by 84%. Temperature-dependent release is presented. Surprisingly, the combination of thymol and chlorine had an improved antiviral activity, reducing the amount of both viruses by four orders of magnitude, indicating synergistic activity. For CCV, coating with only thymol was inactive, while SiO2-urea-Cl reduced it below a detectable level.

Durability and Surface Oxidation States of Antiviral Nano-Columnar Copper Thin Films.

Antiviral coatings that inactivate a broad spectrum of viruses are important in combating the evolution and emergence of viruses. In this study, nano-columnar Cu thin films have been proposed, inspired by cicada wings (which exhibit mechano-bactericidal activity). Nano-columnar thin films of Cu and its oxides were fabricated by the sputtering method, and their antiviral activities were evaluated against envelope-type bacteriophage Φ6 and non-envelope-type bacteriophage Qβ. Among all of the fabricated films, Cu thin films showed the highest antiviral activity. The infectious activity of the bacteriophages was reduced by 5 orders of magnitude within 30 min by the Cu thin films, by 3 orders of magnitude by the Cu2O thin films, and by less than 1 order of magnitude by the CuO thin films. After exposure to ambient air for 1 month, the antiviral activity of the Cu2O thin film decreased by 1 order of magnitude; the Cu thin films consistently maintained a higher antiviral activity than the Cu2O thin films. Subsequently, the surface oxidation states of the thin films were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Cu thin films exhibited slower oxidation to the CuO than Cu2O thin films. This oxidation resistance could be a characteristic property of nanostructured Cu fabricated by the sputtering method. Finally, the antiviral activity of the nano-columnar Cu thin films against infectious viruses in humans was demonstrated by the binding inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor within 10 min.

Aero-manufacture of nanobulges for an in-place anticoronaviral on air filters.

The interest in removing contagious viruses from indoor air using ventilation and filtration systems is increasing rapidly because people spend most of the day indoors. The development of an effective platform to regenerate the antiviral function of air filters during use and safe abrogation of used filters containing infectious viruses is a challenging task, because an on-demand safe-by-design manufacture system is essential for in-place antiviral coatings, but it has been rarely investigated. With these considerations, an electrically operable dispenser was prepared for decorating continuous ultrafine Fe-Zn, Fe-Ag, or Fe-Cu particles (<5nm) onto SiO2 nanobeads (ca. 130nm) to form nanobulges (i.e., nanoroughness for engaging coronavirus spikes) in the aerosol state for 3min direct deposition on the air filter surfaces. The resulting nanobulges were exposed to human coronaviruses (HCoV; surrogates of SARS-CoV-2) to assess antiviral function. The results were compared with similar-sized individual Zn, Ag, and Cu particles. The nanobulges exhibited comparable antiviral activity to Zn, Ag, and Cu particles while retaining biosafety in both in vitro and in vivo models because of the significantly smaller metallic fractions. This suggests that the bimetallic bulge structures generate reactive oxygen species and Fenton-mediated hydroxyl radicals for inactivating HCoV.

Antiviral Peptides in Antimicrobial Surface Coatings—From Current Techniques to Potential Applications

The transmission of pathogens through contact with contaminated surfaces is an important route for the spread of infections. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 highlights the necessity to attenuate surface-mediated transmission. Currently, the disinfection and sanitization of surfaces are commonly performed in this regard. However, there are some disadvantages associated with these practices, including the development of antibiotic resistance, viral mutation, etc.; hence, a better strategy is necessary. In recent years, peptides have been studied to be utilized as a potential alternative. They are part of the host immune defense and have many potential in vivo applications in drug delivery, diagnostics, immunomodulation, etc. Additionally, the ability of peptides to interact with different molecules and membrane surfaces of microorganisms has made it possible to exploit them in ex vivo applications such as antimicrobial (antibacterial and antiviral) coatings. Although antibacterial peptide coatings have been studied extensively and proven to be effective, antiviral coatings are a more recent development. Therefore, this study aims to highlight antiviral coating strategies and the current practices and application of antiviral coating materials in personal protective equipment, healthcare devices, and textiles and surfaces in public settings. Here, we have presented a review on potential techniques to incorporate peptides in current surface coating strategies that will serve as a guide for developing cost-effective, sustainable and coherent antiviral surface coatings. We further our discussion to highlight some challenges of using peptides as a surface coating material and to examine future perspectives.

Ultrashort Peptides for the Self‐Assembly of an Antiviral Coating

AbstractAntiviral compounds are important for generating sterile surfaces. Here, two extremely short peptides, DOPA‐Phe‐NH2 and DOPA‐Phe(4F)‐NH2 that can self‐assemble into spherical nanoparticles with antiviral activity are presented. The peptide assemblies possess excellent antiviral activity against bacteriophage T4 with antiviral minimal inhibitory concentrations of 125 and 62.5 µg mL−1, for DOPA‐Phe‐NH2 and DOPA‐Phe(4F)‐NH2, respectively. When the peptide assemblies are applied on a glass substrate by drop‐casting, they deactivate more than 99.9% of bacteriophage T4 and Canine coronavirus. Importantly, the peptide assemblies have low toxicity toward mammalian cells. Overall, the findings can provide a novel strategy for the design and development of antiviral coatings for a decreased risk of viral infections.

Sustainable bioactive pectin-based films to improve fruit safety via a circular economy approach

This work reports on the valorisation of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) for the development of food-grade antiviral coatings against major viral foodborne pathogens, human noroviruses (NoVs) and hepatitis A virus (HAV). Initially, the antiviral activity of polyphenol-rich pectin extracts with abundant non-covalent interactions (PPN), pectin extracts enriched with intact pectin-polyphenol ester and O-glycosyl bonds (PPC) and hydro-ethanolic polyphenol-rich extracts (EPE) was compared. Higher viral reductions were found for the pectin extracts rich in polyphenols, mainly in those containing covalent pectin-polyphenol interactions. This specific extract was mixed with commercial citrus pectin (CP) to develop active edible films. Dry films were analysed in terms of their optical, morphological, mechanical and barrier properties. Addition of the bioactive pectin persimmon extract resulted in more coloured films with lower transparency. The presence of covalently-linked polyphenols gave rise to stiffer films, with lower sorption capacity and more hydrophobic nature. The infectivity of MNV and HAV on fresh blueberries after the coating treatments was reduced by approximately 4.28 and 2.38 log, respectively, after overnight incubation, as compared to the controls, when 10% PPC was incorporated into the film. Higher amounts of PPC did not significantly improve the antiviral activity and a complete inactivation for both viruses was observed after 4 days of storage at 25 °C. This paper highlights the potential of persimmon discards as a cheap source of food-grade antiviral coatings with improved physicochemical properties as compared to commercial citrus pectin.

Antiviral Polymer Brushes by Visible-Light-Induced, Oxygen-Tolerant Covalent Surface Coating

This work presents a novel route for creating metal-free antiviral coatings based on polymer brushes synthesized by surface-initiated photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (SI-PET-RAFT) polymerization, applying eosin Y as a photocatalyst, water as a solvent, and visible light as a driving force. The polymer brushes were synthesized using N-[3-(decyldimethyl)-aminopropyl] methacrylamide bromide and carboxybetaine methacrylamide monomers. The chemical composition, thickness, roughness, and wettability of the resulting polymer brush coatings were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), water contact angle measurements, and ellipsometry. The antiviral properties of coatings were investigated by exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and avian influenza viruses, with further measurement of residual viable viral particles. The best performance was obtained with Cu surfaces, with a ca. 20-fold reduction of SARS-Cov-2 and a 50-fold reduction in avian influenza. On the polymer brush-modified surfaces, the number of viable virus particles decreased by about 5-6 times faster for avian flu and about 2-3 times faster for SARS-CoV-2, all compared to unmodified silicon surfaces. Interestingly, no significant differences were obtained between quaternary ammonium brushes and zwitterionic brushes.

Rapid and Highly Sensitive Method for Evaluating Surface Coatings against an Enveloped RNA Virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased public health vigilance worldwide. The coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can spread via aerosols, and droplet-borne viruses remain viable on nonliving surfaces for long duration. Hence, effective antiviral coatings are highly useful in eliminating viral persistence on nonliving surfaces. Although innovative antiviral coatings have been designed, conventional procedures for antiviral assays are generally laborious, time-consuming, and have a high limit of detection. In the present study, we report a rapid and highly sensitive method for evaluating antiviral coatings by measuring the luciferase activity derived from recombinant Sendai virus (SeV). The physicochemical characteristics of SeV, which has a single-stranded RNA genome encapsulated within a lipid envelope, allow us to exploit it as an indicator of the physicochemical potential of coating materials against enveloped RNA viruses in general. We demonstrate that SeV-based assay systems allow for the rapid and quantitative evaluation of the surface coatings composed of iodine solubilized in polyvinyl acetate. Additionally, we have investigated the effect of mucins, the dominant protein component of saliva, on the antiviral activity of surface coatings. The presence of mucins in the SeV suspension considerably rescues luciferase activity at the viral-surface interface, presumably due to mucin-mediated viral protection. Our findings provide insights into a procedure capable of the rapid evaluation and optimization of surface coatings, and suggest an important role of the mucin in the valid evaluation of antiviral agents.

Lignin: A Sustainable Antiviral Coating Material.

Transmission of viruses through contact with contaminated surfaces is an important pathway for the spread of infections. Antiviral surface coatings are useful to minimize such risks. Current state-of-the-art approaches toward antiviral surface coatings either involve metal-based materials or complex synthetic polymers. These approaches, however, even if successful, will have to face great challenges when it comes to large-scale applications and their environmental sustainability. Here, an antiviral surface coating was prepared by spin-coating lignin, a natural biomass residue of the paper production industry. We show effective inactivation of herpes simplex virus type 2 (>99% after 30 min) on a surface coating that is low-cost and environmentally sustainable. The antiviral mechanism of the lignin surface was investigated and is attributed to reactive oxygen species generated upon oxidation of lignin phenols. This mechanism does not consume the surface coating (as opposed to the release of a specific antiviral agent) and does not require regeneration. The coating is stable in ambient conditions, as demonstrated in a 6 month aging study that did not reveal any decrease in antiviral activity. This research suggests that natural compounds may be used for the development of affordable and sustainable antiviral coatings.

In vitro testing of salt coating of fabrics as a potential antiviral agent in reusable face masks

During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, wearing face masks in public spaces became mandatory in most countries. The risk of self-contamination when handling face masks, which was one of the earliest concerns, can be mitigated by adding antiviral coatings to the masks. In the present study, we evaluated the antiviral effectiveness of sodium chloride deposited on a fabric suitable for the manufacturing of reusable cloth masks using techniques adapted to the home environment. We tested eight coating conditions, involving both spraying and dipping methods and three salt dilutions. Influenza A H3N2 virus particles were incubated directly on the salt-coated materials, collected, and added to human 3D airway epithelial cultures. Live virus replication in the epithelia was quantified over time in collected apical washes. Relative to the non-coated material, salt deposits at or above 4.3 mg/cm2 markedly reduced viral replication. However, even for larger quantities of salt, the effectiveness of the coating remained dependent on the crystal size and distribution, which in turn depended on the coating technique. These findings confirm the suitability of salt coating as antiviral protection on cloth masks, but also emphasize that particular attention should be paid to the coating protocol when developing consumer solutions.

Synergistic Antiviral Effects of Metal Oxides and Carbon Nanotubes.

In this research, the synergistic antiviral effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and metal oxides (MO) in the form of novel hybrid structures (MO-CNTs) are presented. Raw CNTs, Ni(OH)2, Fe2O3 and MnO2, as well as Ni(OH)2-CNT, Fe2O3-CNT and MnO2-CNT were explored in this study against Escherichia. coli MS2 bacteriophage, which was used as a virus surrogate. The nano particles were synthesized and characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Kinetic parameters such as the LD50 (lethal dose to kill 50% of the population), T50 and T80 (time taken to kill 50% and 80% of the population), SGR (specific growth rate) and IRD (initial rate of deactivation of the population) were also studied to examine the antiviral efficacy of these nanomaterials. Among all the nanomaterials, Ni(OH)2-CNT was the most effective antiviral agent followed by Fe2O3-CNT, MnO2-CNT, raw CNTs, Ni(OH)2, Fe2O3 and MnO2. When comparing the metal oxide-CNTs to the raw CNTs, the average enhancement was 20.2%. The average antiviral activity enhancement of the MO-CNTs were between 50 and 54% higher than the MO itself. When compared to the raw CNTs, the average enhancement over all the MO-CNTs was 20.2%. The kinetic studies showed that the LD50 of Ni(OH)2-CNT was the lowest (16µg/mL), which implies that it was the most toxic of all the compounds studied. The LD50 of Ni(OH)2, Fe2O3 and MnO2 were 17.3×, 14.5× and 10.8× times greater than their corresponding hybrids with the CNTs. The synergistic mechanism involved the entrapment of phage viruses by the nano structured CNTs leading to structural damage along with toxicity to phage from the release of MO ions. The metal oxide-CNT nano hybrids developed in this project are promising candidates in applications such as antiviral coatings, nanocomposites, adsorbents and as components of personal protection gears.

Self-Assembled, Hierarchical Structured Surfaces for Applications in (Super)hydrophobic Antiviral Coatings.

A versatile method for the creation of multitier hierarchical structured surfaces is reported, which optimizes both antiviral and hydrophobic (easy-clean) properties. The methodology exploits the availability of surface-active chemical groups while also manipulating both the surface micro- and nanostructure to control the way the surface coating interacts with virus particles within a liquid droplet. This methodology has significant advantages over single-tier structured surfaces, including the ability to overcome the droplet-pinning effect and in delivering surfaces with high static contact angles (>130°) and good antiviral efficacy (log kill >2). In addition, the methodology highlights a valuable approach for the creation of mechanically robust, nanostructured surfaces which can be prepared by spray application using nonspecialized equipment.

Superrepellent Doubly Reentrant Geometry Promotes Antibiofouling and Prevention of Coronavirus Contamination.

The fomite transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has drawn attention because of its highly contagious nature. Therefore, surfaces that can prevent coronavirus contamination are an urgent and unmet need during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Conventional surfaces are usually based on superhydrophobic or antiviral coatings. However, these coatings may be dysfunctional because of biofouling, which is the undesired adhesion of biomolecules. A superhydrophobic surface independent of the material content and coating agents may serve the purpose of antibiofouling and preventing viral transmission. Doubly reentrant topology (DRT) is a unique structure that can meet the need. This study demonstrates that the DRT surfaces possess a striking antibiofouling effect that can prevent viral contamination. This effect still exists even if the DRT surface is made of a hydrophilic material such as silicon oxide and copper. To the best of our knowledge, this work first demonstrates that fomite transmission of viruses may be prevented by minimizing the contact area between pathogens and surfaces even made of hydrophilic materials. Furthermore, the DRT geometry per se features excellent antibiofouling ability, which may shed light on the applications of pathogen elimination in alleviating the COVID‐19 pandemic.