# Copper–Silver Nanoparticle/Lipase Nanobiohybrids for Enhanced Activity Against Viral Pathogens

## TL;DR

A new bimetallic nanomaterial with lipase can effectively inactivate various viruses, including monkeypox and coronaviruses, at low concentrations.

## Contribution

The development of a sustainable, low-toxicity nanobiohybrid material with strong virucidal activity against diverse viruses.

## Key findings

- NanoCuAg inactivated 99% of human rhinovirus B14 and 99.99% of human coronavirus 229E at 200 ppm with hydrogen peroxide.
- The material achieved 90% efficacy against monkeypox virus and a 4.8 log10 reduction in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus at 1000 ppm.

## Abstract

The development of sustainable, low-toxicity materials
that are
effective against a wide range of microorganisms is crucial in addressing
emerging infectious diseases. The recent spread of monkeypox virus
(MPXV), respiratory pathogens such as rhinoviruses or seasonal coronaviruses,
and animal pathogens such as porcine reproductive and respiratory
syndrome virus (PRRSV) highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions
in both human and animal health. In this study, we designed a bimetallic
nanobiohybrid material, NanoCuAg, composed of a lipase and in situ-synthesized
copper and silver nanoparticles, with a low silver-to-copper ratio,
through a simple and sustainable synthetic process. The nanobiomaterial,
featuring a supramolecular flower structure containing ∼4 nm
average diameter nanoparticles, contains 32% copper and 3% silver,
mainly in the Cu­(II) and Ag­(I) oxidation states. Despite its low silver
content, the nanobiomaterial showed a strong catalytic efficacy in
different model reactions. Then, its virucidal activity was evaluated
under different conditions. At 200 ppm, in combination with hydrogen
peroxide, it inactivated 99% of human rhinovirus B14 and 99.99% of
human coronavirus 229E. At 1000 ppm, it achieved 90% efficacy against
MPXV and a 4.8 log10 (≈99.999%) reduction in PRRSV.
These results demonstrate the potential of NanoCuAg as a highly effective
virucidal material, capable of inactivating both enveloped and nonenveloped
viruses at low concentrations, making it a promising candidate for
broad-spectrum virucidal applications.