Suppressing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in public spaces through surface engineering

The exploration of different ways in which the current Covid-19 pandemic can be kept controlled is crucial to enable reopening the society and ensure a flourishing economy. While a successful vaccine would be the ideal way to put a halt on the pandemic, a rapid deployment is not guaranteed, and may not happen for sometime. Short of a vaccine, measures that can prevent spreading the infection are an important alternative. Apart from airborne direct transmission, indirect transmission via surfaces, in particular in public spaces, can play an important role in spreading the disease. We propose the development and identification of routes for easy deployment of surface materials and coatings that can actively inhibit and retard the spread of the virus from an infected person to others via touch surfaces, by deactivating it. This would potentially be a game changer for "high-traffic" surfaces in public spaces. We will build on existing knowledge about the antiviral properties of copper, and seek to optimize them.

Short of a vaccine that can be administered to large parts of the population, suppression of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 should be a priority to minimize the reproduction number and hence rate at which the disease spreads. A key transmission path for COVID-19 when lockdown restrictions are lifted is through contact with touch surfaces in public spaces that will be touched by many members of the public, for example door handles in public buildings and Schools or handles and holding rails in public transport. It is know that SARS-CoV-2 can survive for up to 48h on the often employed stainless steel surfaces, providing a direct pathway for transmission. Breaking this pathway is the key goal of this proposal, through identification of surface modifications that can more rapidly inactivate SARS-CoV-2 and thereby effectively suppress the transmission.