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Currently, an extensive effort is ongoing in academia and industry to design cost-effective coatings that can protect the surfaces against microorganisms, by limiting their transmission and growth. Thermal spray can be used to improve the functionality of thermoplastic surfaces by combining an innovative design with the antimicrobial properties of metallic materials. This systematic review deals with copper coatings deposited on thermoplastics by thermal spray techniques. Its aim is to understand the role that surface roughness, material microstructure and surface chemistry plays on the inactivation rate of microorganisms, especially viruses. In addition, a general view of the interaction mechanisms between metallic surface and microorganisms is emphasized. The antimicrobial coatings should be engineered to control the release of metal ions which is directly linked with the lifespan of the microorganism. They must also comply with the ISO 21702:2019 that stipulates suitable methods for antiviral activity measurement on plastics and other non-porous surfaces of antiviral-treated products. The designed coatings should provide long-lasting virus protection and prevent the degradation of the surface. Finally, an outline of the effect of the copper deposition method onto thermoplastic surfaces, coating microstructure, and surface specific oxygen species is presented in correlation with antimicrobial properties.

Background: Congenital CMV infection is the leading cause of neonatal neurological deficit. We herein studied in vitro and ex vivo the potential of the hyperimmune globulin Cytotect CP® (Biotest, Germany) for congenital infection prevention and treatment. Methods: In vitro neutralization assays were conducted in fibroblasts and retinal epithelial cells on the CMV strains TB40/E and VHL/E to determine the 50% and 90% neutralizing doses (ND50 and ND90). The toxicity was assessed by measuring LDH release. Ex vivo assays were conducted in first-trimester villi explants with the TB40/E strain, namely, neutralization assays, the prevention of villi infection, and the inhibition of viral replication in infected villi. Viability was assessed by β-HCG quantification in supernatants. Results: The in vitro neutralization tests showed that Cytotect CP®® inhibits the development of infection foci (DN50: 0.011–0.014 U/mL for VHL/E and 0.032–0.033 U/mL for TB40E) without any toxicity. In the ex vivo neutralization assays, the DN50 were 0.011 U/mL on day 7 and 0.093 U/mL on day 14. For the prevention of villi infection, the EC50 was 0.024 U/mL on day 7. Cytotect-CP® did not inhibit viral growth in infected villi. No impact on villi viability was observed. Conclusions: These results sustained that Cytotect CP® has the potential to prevent CMV congenital infection.