Can photocatalysis help in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic?

Agata Markowska-Szczupak; Oliwia Paszkiewicz; Kenta Yoshiiri; Kunlei Wang; Ewa Kowalska

doi:10.1016/j.cogsc.2023.100769

Can photocatalysis help in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic?

Curr Opin Green Sustain Chem. 2023 Apr:40:100769. doi: 10.1016/j.cogsc.2023.100769. Epub 2023 Feb 2.

Authors

Agata Markowska-Szczupak¹, Oliwia Paszkiewicz¹, Kenta Yoshiiri^{2

3}, Kunlei Wang², Ewa Kowalska^{2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Piastow 42, 71-065 Szczecin, Poland.
² Institute for Catalysis (ICAT), Hokkaido University, N21, W10, 001-0021 Sapporo, Japan.
³ Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, N10, W5, 060-0810 Sapporo, Japan.
⁴ Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.

Abstract

Mould fungi are serious threats to humans and animals (allergen) and might be the main cause of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. The common methods of disinfection are not highly effective against fungi due to the high resistance of fungal spores. Recently, photocatalysis has attracted significant attention towards antimicrobial action. Outstanding properties of titania photocatalysts have already been used in many areas, e.g., for building materials, air conditioner filters, and air purifiers. Here, the efficiency of photocatalytic methods to remove fungi and bacteria (risk factors for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 co-infection) is presented. Based on the relevant literature and own experience, there is no doubt that photocatalysis might help in the fight against microorganisms, and thus prevent the severity of COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Antimicrobial materials; COVID-19 pandemic; Co-infections; Fungi; Photocatalysis.

Publication types

Review