Deep-ultraviolet photonics for the disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants (Delta and Omicron) in the cryogenic environment

Wenyu Kang; Jing Zheng; Jiaxin Huang; Lina Jiang; Qingna Wang; Zhinan Guo; Jun Yin; Xianming Deng; Ye Wang; Junyong Kang

doi:10.29026/oea.2023.220201

Opto-Electronic Advances (Sep 2023)

Deep-ultraviolet photonics for the disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants (Delta and Omicron) in the cryogenic environment

Wenyu Kang,
Jing Zheng,
Jiaxin Huang,
Lina Jiang,
Qingna Wang,
Zhinan Guo,
Jun Yin,
Xianming Deng,
Ye Wang,
Junyong Kang

Affiliations

Wenyu Kang: Engineering Research Center of Micro-nano Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, Fujian Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Materials and Applications, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Jing Zheng: Xiamen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen 361021, China
Jiaxin Huang: Engineering Research Center of Micro-nano Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, Fujian Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Materials and Applications, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Lina Jiang: Xiamen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen 361021, China
Qingna Wang: Engineering Research Center of Micro-nano Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, Fujian Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Materials and Applications, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Zhinan Guo: Xiamen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen 361021, China
Jun Yin: Engineering Research Center of Micro-nano Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, Fujian Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Materials and Applications, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Xianming Deng: School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Ye Wang: Engineering Research Center of Micro-nano Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, Fujian Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Materials and Applications, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
Junyong Kang: Engineering Research Center of Micro-nano Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, Fujian Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Materials and Applications, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29026/oea.2023.220201
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 6, no. 9
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

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Deep-ultraviolet (DUV) disinfection technology provides an expeditious and efficient way to suppress the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the influences of viral variants (Delta and Omicron) and low temperatures on the DUV virucidal efficacy are still unknown. Here, we developed a reliable and uniform planar light source comprised of 275-nm light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to investigate the effects of these two unknown factors and delineated the principle behind different disinfection performances. We found the lethal effect of DUV at the same radiation dose was reduced by the cryogenic environment, and a negative-U large-relaxation model was used to explain the difference in view of the photoelectronic nature. The chances were higher in the cryogenic environment for the capture of excited electrons within active genetic molecules back to the initial photo-ionised positions. Additionally, the variant of Omicron required a significantly higher DUV dose to achieve the same virucidal efficacy, and this was thanks to the genetic and proteinic characteristics of the Omicron. The findings in this study are important for human society using DUV disinfection in cold conditions (e.g., the food cold chain logistics and the open air in winter), and the relevant DUV disinfection suggestion against COVID-19 is provided.

Published in Opto-Electronic Advances

ISSN: 2096-4579 (Print)
Publisher: Institue of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Science: Physics: Optics. Light
Website: http://www.oejournal.org/oea

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