Effect of the photocatalyst under visible light irradiation in SARS-CoV-2 stability on an abiotic surface

Abstract

There is a worldwide attempt to develop prevention strategies against SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Here we examined the effectiveness of tungsten trioxide（WO3）-based visible light-responsive photocatalyst on the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 under different temperatures and exposure durations. The viral titer on the photocatalyst-coated glass slides decreased from 5.93±0.38 logTCID50/mL to 3.05±0.25 logTCID50/mL after exposure to 3,000 lux of the visible light irradiation for 6h at 20°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 SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments, thereby preventing indirect viral spread.