Antiviral effects of polyphenols: Development of bio-based cleaning wipes and filters

Abstract Polyphenol molecules play multiple essential roles in plant physiology such as defences against plant-pathogens and micro-organisms. The present study reports a chemical modification of the surface of non-woven cellulosic fibre filters (Kimwipes ® ) by fixing polyphenol in order to confer them antiviral properties. The grafting of the non-woven fibres by the antiviral entity was performed using laccase. T4D bacteriophage virus of Escherichia coli B was used as virus model. Catechin polyphenol was tested as antiviral entity. Proteomic experiments were performed to quantify the potential protein target of catechin on viruses. When the modified filter was in contact with the viral suspension a large improvement in the reduction of the viral concentration was observed (5-log after 1 h). Thus, we propose that this material could be used as virucidal wipes for the virus elimination from contaminated surfaces. Virus filtration experiments were performed by spraying an aerial suspension of T4D bacteriophage virus through the designed filter. The best virus capture factor f (ratio of upstream to downstream virus contents) was obtained when using 2 functionalized filters ( f  = 2.9 × 10 3 ). When these 2 layers were placed inside a commercial medical mask in place of its cellulose layer (Kolmi M24001 mask) ( f  = 3.5 × 10 4 ), the f ratio then reached 2.6 × 10 5 for 2 h of filtration. Based on these results, this novel bio-based antiviral mask represents a significant improvement over conventional medical masks.