Development of Advanced Graphene-Based Antiviral Nanocomposites against COVID-19

开发针对 COVID-19 的先进石墨烯抗病毒纳米复合材料

• 批准号: 554159-2020
• 负责人: Chen, Aicheng
• 金额: $ 3.64万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=704888
• 关键词: Development; Advanced; Graphene; Based; Antiviral

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a serious threat to humanity worldwide. The global implications of this pandemic and its associated lockdown are unprecedented in terms of the strain on economies and individuals in almost all occupations. It is known that COVID-19 is a respiratory infection, which can be transmitted from person to person via small aerosolized droplets. People may directly contract COVID-19 if they inhale these potentially infective, virus laden respiratory droplets, or come into contact with contaminated objects or surfaces. To reduce the risk of droplet transmission, face masks can serve as a primary barrier. However, there is a significant shortage of N95-rated respirator masks for front-line workers and health care professionals who are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the life span of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is reported to be between 4 and 72 hours depending on the surface. Hence, it is important to develop a re-usable face mask with enhanced antiviral properties. The goal of this project is to develop advanced functional graphene-based nanocomposites with robust antiviral and antibacterial activities. This project builds on our recent NSERC CRD / OCE VIP II project collaborated with ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. The proposed functional nanocomposites can be coated onto various materials to create an advanced filter for the fabrication of novel re-usable masks. The fabricated graphene-based nanocomposite layer not only filters out particulates, but also binds with and disinfects coronavirus. In addition to face masks, there also exists an immense demand for other personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face shields and aprons to protect front-line workers. However, most of these PPE are comprised of plastics that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive on for up to 72 hours, which poses a high risk associated with the regular use of PPE. The proposed functional graphene-based nanocomposites can be coated onto the PPE as an antiviral layer to effectively disinfect coronavirus, thereby providing a safer environment for both patients and health care professionals. Consequently, the spread of the virus can be significantly reduced.

冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的爆发对全世界人类构成严重威胁。就几乎所有职业的经济和个人承受的压力而言，这种流行病及其相关封锁的全球影响是前所未有的。众所周知，COVID-19 是一种呼吸道感染，可以通过微小的雾化飞沫在人与人之间传播。如果人们吸入这些潜在传染性、载有病毒的呼吸道飞沫，或接触受污染的物体或表面，可能会直接感染 COVID-19。为了降低飞沫传播的风险，口罩可以作为主要屏障。然而，对于应对 COVID-19 大流行的一线工作人员和医疗保健专业人员来说，N95 级口罩严重短缺。此外，据报道 SARS-CoV-2 病毒的寿命为 4 至 72 小时，具体取决于表面。因此，开发一种具有增强抗病毒性能的可重复使用的口罩非常重要。该项目的目标是开发具有强大抗病毒和抗菌活性的先进功能性石墨烯基纳米复合材料。该项目建立在我们最近与 ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd 合作的 NSERC CRD / OCE VIP II 项目的基础上。所提出的功能性纳米复合材料可以涂覆到各种材料上，以创建先进的过滤器，用于制造新型可重复使用的口罩。制造的石墨烯基纳米复合材料层不仅可以过滤颗粒物，还可以与冠状病毒结合并消毒。除了口罩之外，还存在对其他个人防护装备（PPE）的巨大需求，例如面罩和围裙，以保护一线工人。然而，这些 PPE 大部分由塑料制成，SARS-CoV-2 病毒可以在其上存活长达 72 小时，这会带来与定期使用 PPE 相关的高风险。所提出的功能性石墨烯基纳米复合材料可以作为抗病毒层涂覆在个人防护装备上，以有效消毒冠状病毒，从而为患者和医疗保健专业人员提供更安全的环境。因此，可以显着减少病毒的传播。