Evaluation of electrostatic precipitation to capture and inactivate viral particles from bioaerosols

Preston, Hannah 2022. Evaluation of electrostatic precipitation to capture and inactivate viral particles from bioaerosols. MPhil Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Background: UltravisionTM technology has been developed to clear surgical smoke during laparoscopic surgery. UltravisionTM operates by ‘electrostatic precipitation’ (EP), whereby solid particles are removed from a gas via electrical energy. Previous studies have shown that EP can capture airborne pathogens. However, little is known regarding the effects of EP on viral activity. The ability to successfully capture and inactivate aerosolised viral particles may limit the spread of respiratory diseases, potentially enabling elective laparoscopic surgical procedures to continue during periods of viral pandemics. Methods: To mimic the release of bioaerosols that occurs during surgery, model systems designed to resemble open and closed surgery were constructed. Two viruses were used to evaluate the effects of UltravisionTM on both enveloped and non-enveloped virus particles: a Lenti-SARS Pseudovirus and Adenovirus serotype 5. A known concentration of each virus sample was aerosolised into the model systems, exposed to UltravisionTM, and collected from a BioSampler for experimental analysis. Additionally, parameters affecting the efficiency of EP were altered to identify optimal conditions for UltravisionTM usage. All collected samples were analysed for viral presence by qPCR and for viral activity by transduction and plaque assays. Results: Virus particles were successfully captured and inactivated by UltravisionTM, in both model systems. UltravisionTM functioned most efficiently at 10kV. Likewise, using two discharge electrodes at 8kV, as opposed to one, enhanced the efficiency of electrostatic precipitation. Conclusion: Although this study highlights UltravisionTM as an efficient device for the capture and inactivation of viral particles, the exact mechanisms underpinning viral inactivation remain unknown. It was hypothesised that the discharge electrode generated virucidal reactive species that degraded the aerosolised virus particles. Future work using more representative models is required to confirm findings from this study and to elucidate mechanisms of viral inactivation caused by UltravisionTM

Item Type:	Thesis (MPhil)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Medicine
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	8 December 2022
Last Modified:	08 Dec 2023 02:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/154743

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