Preparation and evaluation of the biological activity of antiviral agents based on copper and silver oxides used in personal protective equipment against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
NanoBrand Inc. manufactures new nanomaterials as a cost-effective alternative to traditional antibacterial with a great commercialization potential providing solutions in the fight against microorganisms, spores and viruses including newly discovered Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). They already have licenses from Health Canada for wound care, skincare, surface treatment and veterinary disease treatment. Tekna Inc. is a well-known major supplier of copper nanoparticles and alloys in Canada for various applications including antiviral materials. They have used inductively coupled plasma (ICP) technology to produce a wide variety of nanoparticles with well-controlled morphology and properties (sizes and purity) to meet different field related requirements including those for various medical fields and targeted cancer treatments. These two companies wished to develop new nanomaterials by green technology which can be used as efficient antiviral materials against enveloped viruses including SARS-CoV-19. In the context of COVID‑19 pandemic, a multidiscipline research team composed of chemists, polymer scientists, biologists (IRSST, UQTR, and UQAC), specialists in nanoparticles-based antibacterial and antiviral agents (NanoBrand Inc., Tekna Inc.) and innovative textile engineers (Innofibre in Trois-Rivières, CTT Group in Saint-Hyacinthe) proposes a project regarding the preparation and rapid evaluation of the biological activity of antimicrobial agents based on nanotechnology to treat cotton and cotton/polyester surfaces used for PPE (masks, medical suits, etc.) against SARS-CoV-2. This project will be carried out to offer antibacterial and antiviral solutions that can be transferred to an application for workplaces in the fight against short-term biological risks.
