UK-based novel plastic film can kill Covid virus using just room light

Scientists in the UK have developed a plastic film that can kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which land on its surface with just room light.

The self-sterilising film developed by a team at Queen's University Belfast, UK, is less costly to produce, can be readily scaled and used for disposable aprons, tablecloths, and curtains in hospitals.

The film is coated with a thin layer of particles that absorb ultraviolet (UV) light and produce reactive oxygen species -- ROS.

These kill viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the researchers said. The technology used to create the film also ensures it is degradable -- unlike the current disposable plastic films -- making it environment-friendly, the researchers said.

The research, published in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, could lead to a significant reduction in the transmission of viruses in healthcare environments but also in other settings that uses plastic films.

The researchers tested the film for anti-viral