Soft matter science and the COVID-19 pandemic

Wilson C K Poon; Aidan T Brown; Susana O. L. Direito; Daniel J M Hodgson; Lucas Le Nagard; Alex Lips; Cait E MacPhee; Davide Marenduzzo; John R Royer; Andreia F Silva; Job H J Thijssen; Simon Titmuss

doi:10.1039/D0SM01223H

Soft matter science and the COVID-19 pandemic

Wilson C K Poon, Aidan T Brown, Susana O. L. Direito, Daniel J M Hodgson, Lucas Le Nagard, Alex Lips, Cait E MacPhee, Davide Marenduzzo, John R Royer, Andreia F Silva, Job H J Thijssen, Simon Titmuss

School of Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Much of the science underpinning the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic lies in the soft matter domain. Coronaviruses are composite particles with a core of nucleic acids complexed to proteins surrounded by a protein-studded lipid bilayer shell. A dominant route for transmission is via air-borne aerosols and droplets. Viral interaction with polymeric body fluids, particularly mucus, and cell membranes control their infectivity, while their interaction with skin and artificial surfaces underpins cleaning and disinfection and the efficacy of masks and other personal protective equipment. The global response to COVID-19 has highlighted gaps in the soft matter knowledge base. We survey these gaps, especially as pertaining to the transmission of the disease, and suggest questions that can (and need to) be tackled, both in response to COVID-19 and to better prepare for future viral pandemics.

Original language	English
Number of pages	15
Journal	Soft Matter
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SM01223H
Publication status	Published - 2 Sept 2020

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

cond-mat.soft
physics.bio-ph
physics.pop-ph

Access to Document

10.1039/D0SM01223HLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)

MainAccepted author manuscript, 947 KB

The Physics of Bacteriophage-coated Antimicrobial Surfaces
Brown, A. (Principal Investigator)
EPSRC
4/06/18 → 30/09/22
Project: Research
National Biofilms Innovation Centre
MacPhee, C. (Principal Investigator), Allen, R. (Co-investigator), Brown, A. (Co-investigator), Morozov, A. (Co-investigator), Poon, W. (Co-investigator), Waclaw, B. (Co-investigator) & Wood, T. (Co-investigator)
BBSRC
1/12/17 → 30/11/22
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "Soft matter science and the COVID-19 pandemic",

abstract = " Much of the science underpinning the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic lies in the soft matter domain. Coronaviruses are composite particles with a core of nucleic acids complexed to proteins surrounded by a protein-studded lipid bilayer shell. A dominant route for transmission is via air-borne aerosols and droplets. Viral interaction with polymeric body fluids, particularly mucus, and cell membranes control their infectivity, while their interaction with skin and artificial surfaces underpins cleaning and disinfection and the efficacy of masks and other personal protective equipment. The global response to COVID-19 has highlighted gaps in the soft matter knowledge base. We survey these gaps, especially as pertaining to the transmission of the disease, and suggest questions that can (and need to) be tackled, both in response to COVID-19 and to better prepare for future viral pandemics. ",

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AU - Poon, Wilson C K

AU - Brown, Aidan T

AU - Direito, Susana O. L.

AU - Hodgson, Daniel J M

AU - Nagard, Lucas Le

AU - Lips, Alex

AU - MacPhee, Cait E

AU - Marenduzzo, Davide

AU - Royer, John R

AU - Silva, Andreia F

AU - Thijssen, Job H J

AU - Titmuss, Simon

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AB - Much of the science underpinning the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic lies in the soft matter domain. Coronaviruses are composite particles with a core of nucleic acids complexed to proteins surrounded by a protein-studded lipid bilayer shell. A dominant route for transmission is via air-borne aerosols and droplets. Viral interaction with polymeric body fluids, particularly mucus, and cell membranes control their infectivity, while their interaction with skin and artificial surfaces underpins cleaning and disinfection and the efficacy of masks and other personal protective equipment. The global response to COVID-19 has highlighted gaps in the soft matter knowledge base. We survey these gaps, especially as pertaining to the transmission of the disease, and suggest questions that can (and need to) be tackled, both in response to COVID-19 and to better prepare for future viral pandemics.

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KW - physics.bio-ph

KW - physics.pop-ph

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M3 - Article

SN - 1744-683X

JO - Soft Matter

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ER -

Soft matter science and the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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Projects

The Physics of Bacteriophage-coated Antimicrobial Surfaces

National Biofilms Innovation Centre

Cite this