While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic demands an urgent global need for effective vaccination to curb the spread of infection, controlling the transmission through the introduction of restrictive social practices cannot be overlooked. Several studies have shown that the virus can remain potent for several days on surfaces, and touching such contaminated surfaces may help in virus transmission. Numerous methods of disinfection and sanitization, including chemical and radioactive methods, are in practice worldwide.
However, these methods require frequent use, which may not be economical. In addition, many of these disinfectants contain quaternary ammonium compounds, which can have detrimental effects on the environment. Researchers from North Carolina have recently reported a new type of disinfectant made of negatively charged anionic copolymers with sulfuric acid groups as their backbone.…
