COVID-19 RAPID RESPONSE: ANTIVIRAL COATING FOR THE INACTIVATION OF SARS-COV-2 IN FOOD MANUFACTURING AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

<b>Project Methods</b><br> The following methods outline Claros Technologies' development of antiviral surface coatings, measurement of viricidal activity of these coatings, and related coating durability testing. Success in this project will be measured by the ability of the produced coatings to inactivate viruses on contact and maintain performance over appreciable time periods.Coating synthesis: Antiviral coatings will be prepared on various surfaces including plastic films, metal surfaces, and porous work surfaces using Claros Technologies' nanoparticle "coating by growth" method.Viricidal Testing: Antiviral testing will be conducted in a BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory at the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine using the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and other related animal coronaviruses where applicable. Surface stability will be evaluated according to the ISO 18184 testing method. Briefly, the experiment will be performed at 21-23°C and 40-50% relative humidity (RH) where coronaviruses are more stable, using an inoculum of 105 TCID50/Ml. A volume of 50 μl of the virus will be deposited on the relevant treated and untreated control surfaces and recovered after 1 min, 10 min, 20 min, 40 min and 60 min and 90 min time-points by adding 1 mL of beef extract. The virus infectivity titer will be measured by a plaque-counting method performed following the ISO 18184 guidelines. Success will be determined by measuring the amount of virus inactivation as a result of the treated surfaces.Durability testing: After coating, films and other porous materials of interest indicated in will be washed following American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) test Method 135-2004. Surfaces will be washed according to standard sanitation procedures employed in food manufacturing facilities. Durability will be assessed via electron microscopy and through viricidal performance testing after washing. Physical properties: Coating of plastics should not affect the properties of the material. Studies will be conducted to evaluate the effect of our treatment on air permeation, moisture, vapor transmission rate, stiffness and tensile strength, abrasive strength, bursting strength, and tearing strength. Material weight and thickness will be measured according to ASTM test methods. These properties will be studied as a function of the nanoparticle loading in the material and the performance of the material.