Article

Air-fed cold atmospheric plasma device as a safe and effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 air filter

Fei CaoPaul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China. [email protected]An YanCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, ChinaQingnan XuPaul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, ChinaQiujie FangPaul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, ChinaXiao ChenPaul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, ChinaShuang XueCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, ChinaLongfei QieCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, ChinaJie FangZhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animals & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310059, ChinaGbenga A. MartinsPaul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, ChinaYe LuDepartment of Environmental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310051, ChinaJamoliddin RazzokovDepartment of Biotechnology, Tashkent State Technical University, Universitet 2, Tashkent, 100095, Uzbekistanruixue wangCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, ChinaGuiqiang WangDepartment of Infectious Disease, Center for Liver Disease, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China. [email protected]Zhitong ChenAdvanced Therapeutic Center, National Innovation Center for Advanced Medical Devices, Shenzhen, 518100, China

Scientific Reportsjournal2026en

ABI

Abstract

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) displays antiviral properties, and its efficacy and safety in daily use are subject to full elucidation. In this work, we develop an air-fed CAP device, by inhaling and filtering, to directly inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in the air. The plasma shows a high intensity with reactive nitrogen and oxygen species in optical emission, with plasma electron temperature and density of 0.31 eV and 3.25 × 1017 m-3, respectively, confirming a strong discharge for SARS-CoV-2 disinfection. A qualitative analysis of the device’s discharge process is conducted using a two-dimensional fluid model. The disinfection results show that the typical SARS-CoV-2 morphological spikes disappear after plasma treatment, and the proteosomes of the SARS-CoV-2 virus change. In addition, we conduct experiments on rats to evaluate the safety of the air plasma device in daily use. Rats’ behavior, body weight, food consumption, organ histopathology, and blood biochemical indicators after exposure to this device are evaluated. These results demonstrate that under our experimental conditions, this prototype plasma–air circulation system altered the structural integrity of SARS-CoV-2 and did not produce overt acute toxicity in rats over 4 weeks, although some serum chemistry parameters changed and require further evaluation.

Topics

Plasma Applications and Diagnostics Infection Control and Ventilation Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-36088-y

Citations and references

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