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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.11.01.364364

Photocatalyst under visible light irradiation inactivates SARS-CoV-2 on an abiotic surface

Uema, M.·Yonemitsu, K.·Momose, Y.·Ishii, Y.·Tateda, K.·Inoue, T.·Asakura, H.
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Abstract

There is a worldwide attempt to develop prevention strategies against SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Here we examined the effectiveness of visible light-responsive photocatalyst RENECAT on the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 under different temperatures and exposure durations. The viral activation on the photocatalyst-coated glass slides decreased from 5.93{+/-}0.38 logTCID50/ml to 3.05{+/-}0.25 logTCID50/ml after exposure to visible light irradiation for 6h at 20{degrees}C. On the other hand, lighting without the photocatalyst, or the photocatalyst-coat without lighting retained viral stability. Immunoblotting and electron microscopic analyses showed the reduced amounts of spike protein on the viral surface after the photocatalyst treatment. Our data suggest a possible implication of the photocatalyst on the decontamination of the SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments, thereby preventing indirect viral spread.

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Uema, M., Yonemitsu, K., Momose, Y., Ishii, Y., Tateda, K., Inoue, T., Asakura, H.. 2020-11-02. Photocatalyst under visible light irradiation inactivates SARS-CoV-2 on an abiotic surface. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.01.364364

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