 | Author: Sydney Bush – 1st year |
 | Author: Atef Choudhury – 1st year |
 | Author: Sanjanasri Pothuraju – 2nd year |
 | Author: Blake Potvin – 1st year |
| Faculty Mentor: Volodymyr Tarabara, PhD. – Civil and Environmental Engineering | |
| Mentor: Xunhao Wang – PhD student , Civil and Environmental Engineering |
Abstract:
In the world today there are many viruses that are a concern to human health. These viruses are especially prone to be found in a hospital setting where individuals are being treated for viral infections. Fomites play an important role in the spread of viruses. Higher probability of transfer is associated with fomites in indoor environments and especially with surfaces that are frequently touched. In this study, we numerically estimated adhesion of several viruses (human respiratory syncytial virus, human adenovirus, and coronavirus) to a number of different surfaces (stainless steel, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride) commonly encountered in settings typical for health care facilities. Adhesion was quantified and interpreted based on physicochemical properties of viruses and fomites. Surface charge and hydrophobicity data were obtained in part from published literature and in part by experimental measurements. Hydrophobicity was determined based on measurements of contact angle on the surfaces of selected fomites. Virus-fomites interactions are predicted using the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory. The obtained data can guide screening and selection of materials that discourage virus adhesion, help design anti-adhesive surfaces and develop surface cleaning solutions and protocols.