Coronavirus survives on surfaces within thin films: IIT Bombay Study

The COVID19 virus survives on surfaces by clinging to thin liquid films according to a study by researchers at IITBombay which provides insights into how the novel coronavirus sustains for hours or days on solid surfaces under ambient conditionsThe study published in the journal Physics of Fluids attributes the long survival time of the novel coronavirus on a surface to the slow evaporation of a thin nanometre liquid film remaining after the evaporation of the bulk dropletThe ability to predict the survival of the novel coronavirus on different surfaces can help prevent and contain the spread of COVID19 the researchers saidWhile the typical respiratory droplets dry within seconds the survival time of the SARSCoV2 virus on different surfaces within recent experiments has been found to be on the order of hours they saidThis discrepancy suggests an order of magnitude difference in the time between droplet drying and the survival time of the COVID19 virus on surfaces according to the researchersThe researchers described how a nanometresthick liquid film clings to the surface due to Londonvan der Waals forces which allows the COVID19 virus to survive for hoursVan der Waals forces include attraction and repulsions between atoms molecules and surfaces as well as other intermolecular forcesOur model for the thin film transport shows that survival or drying time of a thin liquid film on a surface is on the order of hours and days similar to what has been observed in measurements of the virus titer said Amit Agrawal professor at Indian Institute of Technology IIT BombayIt captures the relatively longer survival time on plastic and glass compared to metals Mr Agrawal saidA titer is the lowest concentration of virus that still infects cells The nanometric film is assumed to be like a pancake deposited onto a surface The researchers briefly examined changes in drying time as a function of contact angle and surface typeOur biggest surprise was that the drying time of this nanometric film is on the order of hours said Rajneesh Bhardwaj a professor at IIT BombayIt suggests the surface isnt completely dry and the slowly evaporating nanometric film is providing the medium required for the survival of the coronavirus Mr Bhardwaj saidSince a longer survival time of the virus corresponds to increased chances of being infected the researchers said it is desirable to disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as door handles or handheld devices and within hospitals and other areas prone to outbreaksWe also recommend heating surfaces because even short duration high temperatures at which the surface is at a higher temperature than the ambient can help evaporate the nanometric film and destroy the virus Mr Bhardwaj addedKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever