IU research shows the eradication of coronaviruses by electroceutical fabric on contactIU research shows the eradication of coronaviruses by electroceutical fabric on contact

With the number of novel coronavirus infections at 4 million and increasing as of May 10 2020, it has become essential to use personal protective equipment or PPE to protect health care providers from COVID-19. Particles of coronavirus which attach to PPE surfaces pose a significant threat to the spread of the virus.

A team of researchers at Indiana University published important research findings in ChemRxiv via preprint, demonstrating for the first time that coronaviruses are killed when exposed to an electroceutical fabric.

Electroceutical "refers to a matrix of embedded microcell batteries which generates an electrical field and generates low electricity wirelessly in the presence of moisture.

Viruses can be electrically charged, is well known. Coronaviruses rely on electrostatic interactions to be able to attach themselves to their host and to assemble into an infectious form. In order to spread infection their structure has to remain stable. The IU researchers sought to take advantage of the own electrokinetic properties of the coronaviruses to try to dismantle their infectivity.

During the last six years, the IU team has been heavily involved in generating foundational evidence of the mechanism of action and use of the electroceutical fabric. Research results show that the virus' ability to infect within one minute of contact with the fabric is completely eliminated, which disrupts the electrostatic forces that the virus needs.

The immediate goal with the data findings is to get approval through the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization program to apply fabric use specifically to face masks in the COVID-19 fight. Face masks currently have little to no capacity to kill viruses or bacteria.

The electroceutical surface technology, known as V.Dox Technology, is a proprietary dot-matrix pattern of embedded microcell batteries that create an electrical field and generate low electricity levels wirelessly when moist.

Previously the same researchers reported the effects of antibacteria and antibiofilm in the management of infected wounds. The electroceutical technology provides clinicians with a non-antibiotic solution to reduce the risk of infection and potentially increases its value for use in face masks and potentially other surface treatments.

Currently FDA is clearing and marketing the electroceutical dressing by Vomaris Inc. It is made from polyester fabric printed with alternating circular metal dots of elemental silver and zinc metals which create microcell batteries that are activated by moisture.

"This work presents the first evidence that the physical characteristics of coronaviruses can be exploited to make them non-infectious after contact with low-level electrical field-generating electroceutical fabric," according to Chandan Sen, principal author of the study and director of the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering at the IU Medical School.