Production of a thermoplastic polyurethane/silver nanoparticles 3D filament with antiviral properties to combat SARS-CoV-2

Antiviral agents present a propitious alternative to prevent pathogen transmission on various surfaces. In the present study, we successfully synthesized nanocomposites of thermoplastic polyurethanes with silver nanoparticles (TPU/AgNPs) via extrusion. To comprehensively evaluate their potential in antiviral applications, we conducted a thorough analysis of the nanocomposites, encompassing investigations into their chemical structure, physicochemical and mechanical properties, cytotoxicity, antibacterial activity, and antiviral efficacy. Remarkably, the incorporation of AgNPs had no discernible impact on the chemical structure of the materials, ensuring the preservation of essential properties. Moreover, the nanoparticles exhibited remarkable stability within the TPU matrix, with no detectable leaching of AgNPs observed in any of the studied nanocomposites. The nanocomposites demonstrated exceptional antibacterial efficiency, effectively inhibiting bacterial growth while concurrently revealing no cytotoxic effects in vitro for BALB/3 T3 cells. The antiviral performance against SARS-CoV-2 proved highly potent, achieving inactivation yields surpassing 99.0%. Leveraging these advantageous attributes, we harnessed the potential of TPU/AgNPs nanocomposites to produce various versatile products, such as cell phone cases and 3D-printing filaments. In conclusion, this study underscores the immense promise of antiviral TPU/AgNPs nanocomposites, offering new insights into the domains of materials science and infection control, contributing to a healthier and safer future.