Objective: We report on the development and characterization of a UV-C light-emitting diode (LED) 280 nm cluster prototype device designed for the rapid disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses. The device was evaluated against the Betacoronavirus mouse hepatitis virus-3 strain, and its virucidal capacity was probed as a function of different applied UV-C doses versus different situations concerning irradiation distances. Background: UV-C LEDs are light emitters that offer advantages over low-pressure mercury lamps, such as quasimonochromaticity, lower electrical power consumption, instant on/off with the instant full-power operation, unlimited on/off cycles for disinfection schemes, and a much longer lifetime operation, in addition to portability aspects, as well as UV-C LEDs do not contain heavy metal in its composition such as mercury, found in ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) lamps. Results: This novel device reached a 99.999% elimination rate at a distance of 9 cm at all the tested irradiation times (dose dependence), demonstrating that it took only 30 sec to achieve this inactivation rate. Its virucidal effectivity in rapid virus inactivation was demonstrated. Conclusions: We conclude that the HHUVCS cluster device (λp = 280 nm) provides a rapid virucidal effect against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The current research should encourage further advances in UV-C LED-based devices designed for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 virus on surfaces, in air, and in liquids.
Keywords: COVID-19; UV-C LEDs; UV-C light; coronavirus MHV-3; disinfection.