NEUTRALIZING VIRUSES IN SUSPENSIONS BY COPPER OXIDE-BASED FILTERS
Copper oxide-based filters have the potential to reduce infectious titers of viruses found in filterable suspensions. Viral transmission through contaminated liquids, such as blood and breast milk, represents an enormous threat to populations worldwide. The problem of the inactivation of viruses in contaminated liquids lacks a straightforward solution, and the development of novel means to inactivate viruses would be highly desirable.
Copper has potent virucidal properties, and copper’s neutralization of infectious bronchitis virus, poliovirus, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and other enveloped or nonenveloped single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA viruses has been reported.
Authors: Gadi Borkow, Robert W. Sidwell, Donald F. Smee, Dale L. Barnard, John D. Morrey, Humberto H. Lara-Villegas, Yonat Shemer-Avni, and Jeffrey Gabbay. American Society for Microbiology.