Abstract
The coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, is presently responsible for a global pandemic wherein more than 3.5 million people have been infected and more than 250,000 killed to-date. There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19, leaving governments and public health agencies with little defense against the virus aside from advising or enforcing best practices for virus transmission prevention, which include hand-washing, physical distancing, use of face covers, and use of effective disinfectants. In this study, a novel iodine complex called CupriDyne® was assessed for its ability to inactivate SARS-CoV-2. CupriDyne was shown to be effective in inactivating the virus in a time-dependent manner, reducing virus titers by 99% (2 logs) after 30 minutes, and reducing virus titers to below the detection limit after 60 minutes. The novel iodine complex tested herein offers a safe and gentle alternative to conventional disinfectants for use on indoor and outdoor surfaces.
Competing Interest Statement
Studies conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Slobodan Paessler at Galveston National Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch described herein were funded by BioLargo, Inc., the parent company of Odor-No-More, Inc., who developed and manufactures CupriDyne, and were requested to be conducted by BioLargo, Inc. BioLargo, Inc. staff who are listed as authors on this paper do not themselves have any financial commitments to the research described herein, but are employed as staff or consultants by BioLargo, Inc.
