ABSTRACT
Graphical Surface modification corresponds to a set of viable technological approaches to introduce antimicrobial properties in materials that do not have such characteristics. Antimicrobial materials are important to prevent the proliferation of microorganisms and minimize the transmission of diseases caused by pathogens. Herein, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was decorated with nanocones through copper sputtering followed by a plasma etching. Antiviral assays by Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) show that nanostructured Cu-coated PLA has high antiviral activity against Omicron SARS-CoV-2, showing a relative reduction in the amplified RNA (78.8 ± 3.9 %). Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and wear-resistance tests show that 20 wear cycles disrupt the surface nanocone patterns and significantly reduce the Cu content at the surface of the nanostructured Cu-coated PLA, leading to total loss of the antiviral properties of nanostructured PLA against Omicron SARS-CoV-2.
ABSTRACT
Bioinspired bactericidal surfaces are artificial surfaces that mimic the nanotopography of insect wings and are capable of inhibiting microbial growth by a physicomechanical mechanism. The scientific community has considered them an alternative method to design polymers with surfaces that inhibit bacterial biofilm formation, suitable for self-disinfectant medical devices. In this contribution, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with nanocone patterns was successfully produced by a novel two-step procedure involving copper plasma deposition followed by argon plasma etching. According to reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction tests, the bioinspired PLA nanostructures display antiviral performance to inactivate infectious Omicron severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 particles, reducing the amount of the viral genome to less than 4% in just 15 min due to a possible combined effect of mechanical and oxidative stress. The bioinspired antiviral PLA can be suitable for designing personal protection equipment to prevent the transmission of contagious viral diseases, such as Coronavirus Disease 2019.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , PolyestersABSTRACT
Materials with antimicrobial properties are highly desirable for making food packaging and personal protective equipment due to their intrinsic ability to prevent the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms and food contamination. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable polymer that presents interesting mechanical properties for such applications. However, this polymer does not show intrinsic antimicrobial activity. Herein, we applied Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering (RF-MS) to produce antimicrobial copper coatings on the PLA surface. The results indicate that the prolongation in the copper deposition time causes an increase in surface roughness. The PLA coating with copper using a short deposition time (5–20 s) was sufficient to guarantee a bactericidal effect against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, in addition to conferring antiviral activity against Omicron Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution x-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopic studies indicate that occurs only localized degradation on the PLA surface via polymer chain scission. The RF-MS technique was suitable for rapidly manufacturing antimicrobial Cu-coated PLA and providing low copper consumption in the antimicrobial coating process.