Graphene nanoplatelet and graphene oxide functionalization of face mask materials inhibits infectivity of trapped SARS-CoV-2

Flavio De Maio; Valentina Palmieri; Gabriele Babini; Alberto Augello; Ivana Palucci; Giordano Perini; Alessandro Salustri; Patricia Spilman; Marco De Spirito; Maurizio Sanguinetti; Giovanni Delogu; Laura Giorgia Rizzi; Giulio Cesareo; Patrick Soon-Shiong; Michela Sali; Massimiliano Papi

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2021.102788

Graphene nanoplatelet and graphene oxide functionalization of face mask materials inhibits infectivity of trapped SARS-CoV-2

iScience. 2021 Jul 23;24(7):102788. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102788. Epub 2021 Jun 25.

Authors

Flavio De Maio^{1

2}, Valentina Palmieri³, Gabriele Babini⁴, Alberto Augello^{5

6}, Ivana Palucci^{1

2}, Giordano Perini^{5

6}, Alessandro Salustri², Patricia Spilman⁷, Marco De Spirito^{5

6}, Maurizio Sanguinetti^{1

2}, Giovanni Delogu^{2

8}, Laura Giorgia Rizzi⁹, Giulio Cesareo⁹, Patrick Soon-Shiong¹⁰, Michela Sali^{1

2}, Massimiliano Papi^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Dipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio e Infettivologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCSS, Largo A. Gemelli, 8 00168 Rome, Italy.
² Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie - Sezione di Microbiologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, Rome 00168, Italy.
³ Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi, CNR, Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Rome, Italy.
⁴ Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli", Largo A. Gemelli, 8 00168 Rome, Italy.
⁵ Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, Rome 00168, Italy.
⁶ Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCSS, Largo A. Gemelli, 8 00168 Rome, Italy.
⁷ ImmunityBio, LLC, Culver City, 440 Duley Road, El Segundo, California, CA 90245, USA.
⁸ Mater Olbia Hospital, Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda, 07026 Olbia SS, Italy.
⁹ Directa Plus S.p.A. c/o ComoNExT - Science and Technology Park, 22074 Lomazzo, Como, Italy.
¹⁰ Nantworks LLC, Culver City, 9920 Jefferson Boulevard, California, CA 90230, USA.

Abstract

Recent advancements in bidimensional nanoparticles production such as graphene (G) and graphene oxide (GO) have the potential to meet the need for highly functional personal protective equipment (PPE) against SARS-CoV-2 infection. The ability of G and GO to interact with microorganisms provides an opportunity to develop engineered textiles for use in PPE and limit the spread of COVID-19. PPE in current use in high-risk settings for COVID transmission provides only a physical barrier that decreases infection likelihood and does not inactivate the virus. Here, we show that virus pre-incubation with soluble GO inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection of VERO cells. Furthermore, when G/GO-functionalized polyurethane or cotton was in contact SARS-CoV-2, the infectivity of the fabric was nearly completely inhibited. The findings presented here constitute an important innovative nanomaterial-based strategy to significantly increase PPE efficacy in protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that may implement water filtration, air purification, and diagnostics methods.

Keywords: Disease; Health sciences; Materials science; Nanostructure; Public health.