Operative Protocol for Testing the Efficacy of Nasal Filters in Preventing Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Sabrina Semeraro, Anastasia Serena Gaetano, Luisa Zupin (), Carlo Poloni, Elvio Merlach, Enrico Greco (), Sabina Licen, Francesco Fontana, Silvana Leo (), Alessandro Miani, Francesco Broccolo and Pierluigi Barbieri ()
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Sabrina Semeraro: INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Research Unit of University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Anastasia Serena Gaetano: INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Research Unit of University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Luisa Zupin: Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65/1, 34137 Trieste, Italy
Carlo Poloni: INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Research Unit of University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Elvio Merlach: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Enrico Greco: INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Research Unit of University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Sabina Licen: INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Research Unit of University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Francesco Fontana: Ospedale San Polo, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Via Luigi Galvani 1, 34074 Monfalcone, Italy
Silvana Leo: Division of Oncology, Vito Fazzi Hospital, P.za Muratore 1, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Alessandro Miani: SIMA Società Italiana di Medicina Ambientale, Viale di Porta Vercellina, 9, 20123 Milano, Italy
Francesco Broccolo: SIMA Società Italiana di Medicina Ambientale, Viale di Porta Vercellina, 9, 20123 Milano, Italy
Pierluigi Barbieri: INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Research Unit of University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Standardized methods for testing Viral Filtration Efficiency (VFE) of tissues and devices are lacking and few studies are available on aerosolizing, sampling and assessing infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in controlled laboratory settings. NanoAg-coated endonasal filters appear a promising aid for lowering viable virus inhalation in both adult and younger populations (e.g., adolescents). Objective: to provide an adequate method for testing SARS-CoV-2 bioaerosol VFE of bio-gel Ag nanoparticles endonasal filters, by a model system, assessing residual infectivity as cytopathic effect and viral proliferation on in vitro cell cultures. Methods: A SARS-CoV-2 aerosol transmission chamber fed by a BLAM aerosol generator produces challenges (from very high viral loads (10 5 PFU/mL) to lower ones) for endonasal filters positioned in a Y shape sampling port connected to a Biosampler. An aerosol generator, chamber and sampler are contained in a class II cabinet in a BSL3 facility. Residual infectivity is assessed from aliquots of liquid collecting bioaerosol, sampled without and with endonasal filters. Cytopathic effect as plaque formation and viral proliferation assessed by qRT-PCR on Vero E6 cells are determined up to 7 days post inoculum. Results: Each experimental setting is replicated three times and basic statistics are calculated. Efficiency of aerosolization is determined as difference between viral load in the nebulizer and in the Biosampler at the first day of experiment. Efficiency of virus filtration is calculated as RNA viral load ratio in collected bioaerosol with and without endonasal filters at the day of the experiment. Presence of infectious virus is assessed by plaque forming unit assay and RNA viral load variations. Conclusions: A procedure and apparatus for assessing SARS-CoV-2 VFE for endonasal filters is proposed. The apparatus can be implemented for more sophisticated studies on contaminated aerosols.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission; endonasal filters; viral filtration efficacy protocol; bio-gel AgNP filters (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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