Antiviral efficacy of functionalized elastomers against clinically relevant viruses

The ability of viruses to remain infectious on inanimate surfaces is a key factor in their environmental stability and indirect transmission. Developing materials capable of reducing viral persistence is therefore of growing importance for public health protection. In this study, a series of silicone-based surfaces, including SCUDO, VMQ, EPDM-P, and EPDM-Z, were evaluated for their antiviral activity against three distinct viruses: Feline Calicivirus (FCV, strain F-9), Human Adenovirus type 5 (AdV-5), and Herpes Simplex Virus type I (HSV-I). The experimental protocols were designed in accordance with ISO 21702:2019 and combined TCID₅₀ and plaque assays to determine changes in viral infectivity. Mammalian cell lines appropriate to each virus (CRFK, HeLa, and Vero) were employed to ensure accurate viral propagation and quantification. The results revealed clear differences in antiviral efficacy among the tested materials. SCUDO and VMQ formulations consistently produced the highest antiviral activity, achieving reductions up to R = 5.68 against HSV-I and R = 5.25 against AdV-5, highlighting their strong ability to suppress viral replication. Against FCV, reductions were moderate, with the most active materials showing R values close to 2.9. By contrast, EPDM-P samples generally showed minimal or negligible antiviral activity, while EPDM-Z materials displayed more variable outcomes, with some achieving intermediate to high reductions (R values above 2.0). These differences underline the strong influence of material composition on antiviral performance. Taken together, the study demonstrates that selected SCUDO and VMQ surfaces significantly decrease viral infectivity across both enveloped (HSV-I) and non-enveloped (FCV, AdV-5) viruses. Although the mechanism underlying their antiviral action remains undisclosed, the observed efficacy highlights their potential application in developing non-porous materials with built-in antiviral properties, suitable for use in environments where viral contamination and surface-mediated transmission present major risks.