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Alidokht L, Fitzpatrick K, Butler C, Hunsucker KZ, Braga C, Maza WA, Fears KP, Arekhi M, Lanzarini-Lopes M. UV emitting glass: A promising strategy for biofilm inhibition on transparent surfaces. Biofilm 2024; 7:100186. [PMID: 38495771 PMCID: PMC10940134 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2024.100186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Marine biofouling causes serious environmental problems and has adverse impacts on the maritime industry. Biofouling on windows and optical equipment reduces surface transparency, limiting their application for on-site monitoring or continuous measurement. This work illustrates that UV emitting glasses (UEGs) can prevent the establishment and growth of biofilm on the illuminated surfaces. Specifically, this paper describes how UEGs are enabled by innovatively modifying the surfaces of the glass with light scattering particles. Modification of glass surface with silica nanoparticles at a concentration 26.5 μg/cm2 resulted in over ten-fold increase in UV irradiance, while maintaining satisfactory visible and IR transparency metrics of over 99 %. The UEG reduced visible biological growth by 98 % and resulted in a decrease of 1.79 log in detected colony forming units when compared to the control during a 20 day submersion at Port Canaveral, Florida, United States. These findings serve as strong evidence that UV emitting glass should be explored as a promising approach for biofilm inhibition on transparent surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Alidokht
- Environmental and Water Resource Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Katrina Fitzpatrick
- Environmental and Water Resource Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Caitlyn Butler
- Environmental and Water Resource Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Kelli Z. Hunsucker
- Center for Corrosion and Biofouling Control, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - Cierra Braga
- Center for Corrosion and Biofouling Control, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
| | - William A. Maza
- Chemistry Division, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kenan P. Fears
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Marieh Arekhi
- Environmental and Water Resource Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Mariana Lanzarini-Lopes
- Environmental and Water Resource Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA
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Pereira AR, Braga DFO, Vassal M, Gomes IB, Simões M. Ultraviolet C irradiation: A promising approach for the disinfection of public spaces? Science of The Total Environment 2023; 879:163007. [PMID: 36965719 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Ultraviolet irradiation C (UVC) has emerged as an effective strategy for microbial control in indoor public spaces. UVC is commonly applied for air, surface, and water disinfection. Unlike common 254 nm UVC, far-UVC at 222 nm is considered non-harmful to human health, being safe for occupied spaces, and still effective for disinfection purposes. Therefore, and allied to the urgency to mitigate the current pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, an increase in UVC-based technology devices appeared in the market with levels of pathogens reduction higher than 99.9 %. This environmentally friendly technology has the potential to overcome many of the limitations of traditional chemical-based disinfection approaches. The novel UVC-based devices were thought to be used in public indoor spaces such as hospitals, schools, and public transport to minimize the risk of pathogens contamination and propagation, saving costs by reducing manual cleaning and equipment maintenance provided by manpower. However, a lack of information about UVC-based parameters and protocols for disinfection, and controversies regarding health and environmental risks still exist. In this review, fundamentals on UVC disinfection are presented. Furthermore, a deep analysis of UVC-based technologies available in the market for the disinfection of public spaces is addressed, as well as their advantages and limitations. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable inputs and strategies for the development of effective, reliable, and safe UVC disinfection systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Pereira
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniel F O Braga
- SpinnerDynamics, Lda., Rua da Junta de Freguesia 194, Escariz, 4540-322 Arouca, Portugal
| | - Mariana Vassal
- SpinnerDynamics, Lda., Rua da Junta de Freguesia 194, Escariz, 4540-322 Arouca, Portugal
| | - Inês B Gomes
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Manuel Simões
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
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Ong Q, Ronnie Teo J, Dela Cruz J, Wee E, Wee W, Han W. Irradiation of UVC LED at 277 nm inactivates coronaviruses in association to photodegradation of spike protein. Heliyon 2022; 8:e11132. [PMID: 36276725 PMCID: PMC9575548 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
To interrupt SARS-CoV-2 transmission chains, Ultraviolet-C (UVC) irradiation has emerged as a potential disinfection tool to aid in blocking the spread of coronaviruses. While conventional 254-nm UVC mercury lamps have been used for disinfection purposes, other UVC wavelengths have emerged as attractive alternatives but a direct comparison of these tools is lacking with the inherent mechanistic properties unclear. Our results using human coronaviruses, hCoV-229E and hCoV-OC43, have indicated that 277-nm UVC LED is most effective in viral inactivation, followed by 222-nm far UVC and 254-nm UVC mercury lamp. While UVC mercury lamp is more effective in degrading viral genomic content compared to 277-nm UVC LED, the latter results in a pronounced photo-degradation of spike proteins which potentially contributed to the higher efficacy of coronavirus inactivation. Hence, inactivation of coronaviruses by 277-nm UVC LED irradiation constitutes a more promising method for disinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qunxiang Ong
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 11 Biopolis Way, #02-02, Helios, 138667, Singapore,Corresponding author.
| | - J.W. Ronnie Teo
- Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-04, Innovis, 138634, Singapore
| | - Joshua Dela Cruz
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 11 Biopolis Way, #02-02, Helios, 138667, Singapore
| | - Elijah Wee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 11 Biopolis Way, #02-02, Helios, 138667, Singapore
| | - Winson Wee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 11 Biopolis Way, #02-02, Helios, 138667, Singapore
| | - Weiping Han
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 11 Biopolis Way, #02-02, Helios, 138667, Singapore,Corresponding author.
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