Effectiveness of the Nanosilver/TiO2-Chitosan Antiviral Filter on the Removal of Viral Aerosols.

Background: The precaution of airborne transmission of viruses, such as influenza, SARS, MERS, and COVID-19, is essential for reducing infection. In this study, we applied a zero-valent nanosilver/titania-chitosan (nano-Ag0/TiO2-CS) filter bed, whose broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy has been proven previously, for the removal of viral aerosols to minimize the risk of airborne transmission. Methods: The photochemical deposition method was used to synthesize the nano-Ag0/TiO2-CS antiviral material. The surface morphology, elemental composition, and microstructure of the nano-Ag0/TiO2-CS were analyzed by a scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and a transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The MS2 bacteriophages were used as surrogate viral aerosols. The antiviral efficacy of nano-Ag0/TiO2-CS was evaluated by the MS2 plaque reduction assay (PRA) and filtration experiments. In the filtration experiments, the MS2 aerosols passed through the nano-Ag0/TiO2-CS filter, and the MS2 aerosol removal efficiency was evaluated by an optical particle counter and culture method. Results and Conclusions: In the MS2 PRA, 3 g of nano-Ag0/TiO2-CS inactivated 97% of MS2 bacteriophages in 20 mL liquid culture (2 ± 0.5 × 1016 PFU/mL) within 2 hours. The removal efficiency of nano-Ag0/TiO2-CS filter (thickness: 6 cm) for MS2 aerosols reached up to 93%. Over 95% of MS2 bacteriophages on the surface of the nano-Ag0/TiO2-CS filter were inactivated within 20 minutes. The Wells-Riley model predicted that when the nano-Ag0/TiO2-CS filter was used in the ventilation system, airborne infection probability would reduce from 99% to 34.6%. The nano-Ag0/TiO2-CS filter could remain at 50% of its original antiviral efficiency after continuous operation for 1 week, indicating its feasibility for the control of the airborne transmission.

Effect of selected sampling media, flow rate, and time on the sampling efficiency of a liquid impinger packed with glass beads for the collection of airborne viruses.

The liquid impingers can be used for sampling of viral aerosols, such as COVID-19 virus, influenza, and measles. However, the lowest cutoff diameter of commercially available liquid impingers was about 0.3 µm, and the physical collection efficiency for nano-bioaerosol is only about 10-20%. Here, we enhanced the impinger's collection efficiency and recovery of viable viral aerosols by using packed glass beads and selected sampling media (1% peptone and lysogeny broth, LB). Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) MS2 bacteriophage with uranine (as a physical tracer) was used as model viral aerosols. The effects of different sampling flow rates (4, 6, and 12.5 L per minute) and different sampling time (10, 20, and 30 min) on the collection efficiency and recovery of MS2 aerosols were also tested. Collection efficiency and recovery of viable viral aerosols were analyzed as a function of sampling media, flow rate, and sampling time and packed glass beads by using a general linear model. Although the packed glass beads considerably enhanced the collection efficiency of the liquid impinger for MS2 aerosols, the recovery of viable MS2 becomes lower due to the higher pressure drop across the impinger. Using peptone or LB as sampling media, reducing sampling flow rate, and decreasing sampling time was proven to improve the recovery of viable MS2. Conclusively, this study provides some practical methods to improve the collection efficiency of liquid impinger for viral aerosols and preserve their viability.