Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle-Loaded Electrospun Polyvinylidene Fluoride Nanofibers as a Potential Face Protector against Respiratory Viral Infections

Hassan Nageh, Nanotechnology Research Centre (NTRC), The British University in Egypt, El-Shorouk City, Suez Desert Road, P.O. Box 43, Cairo 11837, EgyptFollow
Merna H. Emam, Nanotechnology Research Centre (NTRC), The British University in Egypt, El-Shorouk City, Suez Desert Road, P.O. Box 43, Cairo 11837, Egypt
Fedaa Ali, Nanotechnology Research Centre (NTRC), The British University in Egypt, El-Shorouk City, Suez Desert Road, P.O. Box 43, Cairo 11837, Egypt
Nasra F. Abdel Fattah, Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt
Mohamed Taha, Nano Gate, 9254 Hoda shaarawy, Al Abageyah, El Mukkatam, Cairo 43511, Egypt
Rehab Amin, Nano Gate, 9254 Hoda shaarawy, Al Abageyah, El Mukkatam, Cairo 43511, Egypt
Elbadawy A. Kamoun, Nanotechnology Research Centre (NTRC), The British University in Egypt, El-Shorouk City, Suez Desert Road, P.O. Box 43, Cairo 11837, Egypt; Polymeric Materials Research Department, Advanced Technology and New Materials Research Institute (ATNMRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg Al-Arab City 21934, Alexandria, Egypt
Samah A. Loutfy, Nanotechnology Research Centre (NTRC), The British University in Egypt, El-Shorouk City, Suez Desert Road, P.O. Box 43, Cairo 11837, Egypt; Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt
Amal Kasry, Nanotechnology Research Centre (NTRC), The British University in Egypt, El-Shorouk City, Suez Desert Road, P.O. Box 43, Cairo 11837, Egypt

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 4-22-2022

Abstract

ZnO-NPs loaded polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning and optimized using different concentrations (0, 2, and 5 wt %) of ZnO-NPs. Characterization techniques, for example, FTIR, SEM, XRD, and tensile strength analysis were performed to analyze the composite nanofibers. Molecular docking calculations were performed to evaluate the binding affinity of PVDF and ZnO@PVDF against the hexon protein of adenovirus (PDB ID: 6CGV). The cytotoxicity of tested materials was evaluated using MTT assay, and nontoxic doses subjected to antiviral evaluation against human adenovirus type-5 as a human respiratory model were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. IC50 values were obtained at concentrations of 0, 2, and 5% of ZnO-loaded PVDF; however, no cytotoxic effect was detected for the nanofibers. In 5% ZnO-loaded PVDF nanofibers, both the viral entry and its replication were inhibited in both the adsorption and virucidal antiviral mechanisms, making it a potent antiviral filter/mask. Therefore, ZnO-loaded PVDF nanofiber is a potentially prototyped filter embedded in a commercial face mask for use as an antiviral mask with a pronounced potential to reduce the spreading of infectious respiratory diseases, for example, COVID-19 and its analogues.

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