A study published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces examined the antiviral properties of different types of wood and their ability to reduce the time viruses persist on surfaces. Enveloped viruses, such as the coronavirus, can live up to five days on surfaces, while nonenveloped viruses can last for weeks. Previous research has shown that wood has antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it a suitable material for cutting boards. However, its ability to inactivate viruses had not been explored until now.
The researchers investigated six types of wood – Scots pine, silver birch, gray alder, eucalyptus, pedunculate oak, and Norway spruce – to determine their effectiveness in reducing viral infectivity. They tested enveloped and nonenveloped viruses by flushing a wood sample’s surface with a liquid solution at different time points and then measuring the number of infected cells after incubation. Results revealed that pine, spruce, birch, and alder reduced the virus’ infectivity within one hour, while eucalyptus and oak required two hours. Pine demonstrated the fastest onset of antiviral activity, beginning after just five minutes.
In the case of nonenveloped viruses, oak and spruce surfaces showed a loss of infectivity within about an hour, with oak having an onset time of 7.5 minutes and spruce after 60 minutes. Pine, birch, and eucalyptus reduced the virus’ infectivity after four hours, while alder showed no antiviral effect. The researchers suggest that the chemical composition of the wood’s surface is the key factor in its antiviral functionality. Further study is needed to determine the exact mechanisms responsible for viral inactivation, but these findings highlight wood as a potential sustainable, natural antiviral material.
The study’s findings could have implications for reducing the transmission of viruses on surfaces without the need for household disinfectants. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect populations worldwide, exploring natural antiviral materials like wood could offer a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution. The researchers received funding from the Research Council of Finland and the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation to support their work in identifying wood as a promising candidate for antiviral applications.
Wood’s ability to reduce viral infectivity on surfaces suggests that certain species, such as pine and spruce, could be particularly effective in preventing the spread of viruses. Understanding the antiviral properties of wood opens up possibilities for developing new materials that could help mitigate the transmission of viruses in various settings. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms behind wood’s antiviral effects and potential applications in creating sustainable, natural solutions for reducing viral contamination on surfaces. This study sheds light on the importance of exploring alternative materials in the fight against infectious diseases like COVID-19.