Silicon, gold and copper could help fight COVID-19: Study

Melbourne: The spike proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus become trapped when they come in contact with silicon, gold and copper, according to a study which also found that electric fields can be used to destroy these proteins, likely killing the virus.

The spike protein is used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter and infect the human cells.

The study, published in the journal Chemical Science, found that the spike



proteins of coronaviruses attached and became stuck to certain types of surfaces. "Coronaviruses have spike proteins on their periphery that allow them to penetrate host cells and cause infection and we have found these proteins becomes stuck to the surface of silicon, gold and copper through a reaction that forms a strong chemical bond," said study lead researcher Nadim Darwish, from Curtin University in Australia.