Recent breakthroughs in nanostructured antiviral coating and filtration materials: a brief review

COVID-19 persists as the most challenging pandemic of the 21(st) century with a high rate of transmission. The main pathway of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is aerosol-mediated infection transfer through virus-laden droplets that are expelled by infected people, whereas indirect transmission occurs when contact is made with a contaminated surface. This mini review delivers an overview of the current state of knowledge, research directions, and applications by examining the most recent developments in antiviral surface coatings and filters and analyzing their efficiencies. Reusable masks and other personal protective devices with antiviral properties and self-decontamination could be valuable tools in the fight against viral spread. Moreover, antiviral surface coatings that repel pathogens by preventing adhesion or neutralize pathogens with self-sanitizing ability are assumed to be the most desirable for terminating indirect transmission of viruses. Although many nanomaterials have shown high antiviral capacities, additional research is unquestionably required to develop next-generation antiviral agents with unique characteristics to face future viral outbreaks.