Current disinfection strategies have major shortcomings, so the World Health Organization does not recommend routine spraying or fogging with biocides or sterilization with UV light in populated areas. One possible alternative is nanoparticles of electrostatic atomized (Atomized water particles to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection) aqueous particles generated by an electrospray device manufactured by Panasonic Corporation. Water particles contain reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage lipids, egg whites and DNA, and have been reported to disinfect many bacterial and viral species. In their previous research, Associate Professor Yasugi’s team showed that electrostatic atomized water particles disinfect SARS-CoV-2, but the mechanism remains a mystery. Their new article, published in the Journal of Nanoparticle Research, describes the damage they observed when SARS-CoV-2 was exposed to nano-large electrostatic atomized water particles.
The researchers showed that atomized water particles to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection in the cells by observing virus damage. “We have observed that nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles damage the viral envelope, protein and RNA, so they cannot bind to host cells,” explains Associate Professor Yasugi.
“The oddity we observed is considered to be the primary mechanism by which nano-large electrostatic atomized water particles disinfect SARS-CoV-2. We found that the purpose of the water particles was not the specific structure of the virus or specific egg proteins. Because water particles affect the viral envelope, protein and RNA, they can disinfect other packaged viruses.
Although this proof of the concept shows how electrostatic atomized water particles degrade SARS-CoV-2 at the nanoscale, the full range of their applications remains to be seen. “We do not know the exact cause that destroys SARS-CoV-2; ROS in the particles can be the cause, because ROS can damage lipids, proteins and DNA / RNA due to its oxidation. In addition, our studies have shown that water particles disinfect SARS-CoV-2. “Our future studies will focus on the mechanism of action of ROS and test whether nano-large electrostatic atomized water particles are effective against SARS-CoV-2 in the air.”
