No time, brother
- Metallic copper kills bacteria, fungi and annihilates viruses
- It destroys the protein membrane that coats these microorganisms
- Copper-enriched inks are allies against coronavirus
- Silver also has this antimicrobial property, but it is much more expensive.
Copper is to the corona virus what silver is to the werewolf: both metals have the power to wipe out these creatures. Now a technology from the IPT (Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas), linked to the Economic Development Department of the State of São Paulo, and from the metal lamination company Cecil, produces nano copper particles to be placed in paints, fabrics and even in gel alcohol. .
Metallic copper kills bacteria, fungi and annihilates viruses because it triggers an oxidation process that destroys the protein membrane that coats and protects these microorganisms.
“So, with access to genetic material, [o cobre] causes its destruction [do vírus] and, consequently, viral inactivation”, says Pedro Paulo Noronha Silva de Jesus, research and innovation analyst at Cecil and visiting researcher at the IPT.
It is because of this property that surfaces containing copper can act as passive disinfectants. In other words, paints enriched with copper and applied over steel, wood and plastic, on the surfaces of handrails, doors, windows, jambs, benches and sinks, could make them Covid-free.
“We will be able to have much safer environments from the point of view of controlling infections in subways, railway and BRT stations, bus stops and hospitals, in this case with the establishment of a specific national protocol”, explains Cecil’s CEO, Antonietta. beer.
Cheaper than silver, copper is just as effective
The nanoparticles are capable of destroying viruses in up to four hours and kill bacteria in up to 23 minutes, according to researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Princeton University, both in the United States. This characteristic, called the oligodynamic effect, has already been the subject of some studies.
“Copper has been used as a bactericide for a long time and also has the ability to destabilize the capsid. [camada externa] of various viruses. Many hospitals use copper alloys in doorknobs, handrails and other objects precisely for this property,” says Rômulo Neris, a virologist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a visiting researcher at the University of California, Davis (USA).
“Protocols from the United States and Europe show that 100% copper surfaces, or alloys in which the presence of this metal is at least 60%, maintain the antimicrobial property with the same intensity”, says Cervetto.
The action is effective and less costly compared to initiatives that use silver, a metal that also has antimicrobial properties —according to the London Metals Exchange (LME) copper is, on average, three times cheaper than silver.
Jesus states that the durability of this property will depend on where these nanoparticles are being applied.
“When incorporated into plastics and paints, it is fixed and anchored, maintaining the antimicrobial effect for longer. When used in a liquid phase, as in the case of its application as a liquid disinfectant, the antimicrobial action will be immediate, and a subsequent application will be necessary to maintain the effect”, he says.
Is it safe to use copper this way?
Tilt talked to doctors to find out if manipulating and even ingesting copper nanoparticles could harm human health. Their assessment is that the metal is generally harmless and that adverse reactions are rare.
Paulo Criado, coordinator of the Department of Internal Medicine of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD), said that, although it exists, allergy to copper is “extremely rare”, compared to that caused by other metals, such as nickel or cobalt.
He claims, however, that some people develop allergies if copper is mixed with a substance known as alginate, often used in leg dressings or manipulated by dentists into dental materials. “Maybe copper is not the main culprit, but if there is alginate associated, it can cause allergic sensitization”, he says.
Accidentally ingesting copper nanoparticles can also cause problems if a person swallows more than 10 mg of the metal in a day, according to Alexandre de Sousa Carlos, a gastroenterologist at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de São Paulo.”Maybe copper is not the main culprit , but if there is alginate associated, it can cause allergic sensitization”, he says.
“This hypothesis of a child licking a wall with copper nanoparticles, that would not be enough to cause intoxication in it. It’s hard to have excess copper because you have to have above 10 mg of copper a day.[para causar algum tipo de problema]”, he explains.
The gastroenterologist also explains that excess copper can cause symptoms that include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. “Serious poisoning can cause liver and kidney failure and even coma,” he adds.
He states, however, that our daily diet needs to have copper. “It is a mineral obtained through food and is considered essential for the body. The role of copper is to participate mainly in the formation of some blood cells, hormones and antioxidant enzymes. The recommended daily intake for an adult is 1 to 1, 4mg a day,” he says.
*Collaborated Rodrigo Lara
Source: UOL
