Coronavirus-mimicking nanoparticles (CorNPs) in artificial saliva droplets and nanoaerosols: Influence of shape and environmental factors on particokinetics/particle aerodynamics

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160503Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • An experimental model shown with coronavirus like spike NPs-loaded aerosol mimicking speech scenario in a closed environment

  • Spatiotemporal particokinetics/aerodynamics of nanoaerosols that reach the air and droplets that deposit are measured

  • Method exhibits potential correlation between a particulate pollutant and carrier role it may play in transmission of viruses

  • Fluorescent mucin with salts and enzymes in artificial human saliva/sputum was prepared to mimic droplets as CLSM analyzed

  • The results implicate for decision making on how many people can be put in a room if the air exchange rate is low

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, abbreviated as SARS-CoV-2, has been associated with the transmission of infectious COVID-19 disease through breathing and speech droplets emitted by infected carriers including asymptomatic cases. As part of SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic preparedness, we studied the transmission of aerosolized air mimicking the infected person releasing speech aerosol with droplets containing CorNPs using a vibrating mesh nebulizer as human patient simulator. Generally speech produces nanoaerosols with droplets of <5 μm in diameter that can travel distances longer than 1 m after release. It is assumed that speech aerosol droplets are a main element of the current Corona virus pandemic, unlike droplets larger than 5 m, which settle down within a 1 m radius. There are no systemic studies, which take into account speech-generated aerosol/droplet experimental validation and their aerodynamics/particle kinetics analysis. In this study, we cover these topics and explore role of residual water in aerosol droplet stability by exploring drying dynamics. Furthermore, a candle experiment was designed to determine whether air pollution might influence respiratory virus like nanoparticle transmission and air stability.

Keywords

Aerodynamics
Gold nanourchins
Nebulization
SARS-CoV-2
Particokinetics

Data availability

The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as the data also forms part of an ongoing study.

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