How to improve the chemical disinfection of contaminated surfaces by viruses, bacteria and fungus?

In response to the current pandemic situation, we present the development of an effective virucidal and biocidal solution to prevent from the spread of infectious diseases through contact with contaminated surfaces. The disinfectants, based on equimolar mixtures of didecyldimethylammonium chloride ([DiC₁₀][Cl]), dodecyloctaglycol (C₁₂E₈), and cyclodextrin (CD), show synergistic effects against enveloped viruses (RSV, HSV-1, VACV) and fungi (C. albicans), and additive responses against bacteria (P. aeruginosa). These synergistic mixtures could then be highly helpful for prevention of respiratory illnesses, since a boosted activity allows: (i) a faster eradication of pathogens, (ii) a shorter contact time, and (iii) a complete and broad-spectrum eradication to avoid spread of resistant strains (including bacteria and fungi).

It was demonstrated that [DiC₁₀] cations associated with C₁₂E₈ and native CDs show synergistic action against enveloped viruses (RSV, HSV-1 and VACV) and fungi (C. albicans), with additive responses against bacteria (P. aeruginosa). Indeed, these mixtures act as much more efficient virucide and biocide than each compound alone due to: (i) the formation of [DiC₁₀][Cl]/C₁₂E₈ co-micelles, (ii) the modification of membrane lipids interface, (iii) the fast insertion/removal between the [DiC₁₀] cations and the lipids, and (iv) the alteration of membrane properties facilitating the lipid extraction by the CDs. Modification of lipid interactions allows the virus inactivation or cellular death by the exposure of the genome. As this synergistic effect, based on complex interactions and multiple equilibria, provides broad-spectrum eradication (enveloped viruses, bacteria and fungi), it is unlikely to lead to the development of pathogens resistance against these three components mixtures.

Read more:
Loïc Leclercq, Véronique Nardello-Rataj (2020) How to improve the chemical disinfection of contaminated surfaces by viruses, bacteria and fungus? European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 155, 105559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105559