“Antiviral Properties of Solid Wood Surfaces,” is a study conducted by the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Jyväskylä, has uncovered the antiviral potential of various wood species. Published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, the research highlights the efficacy of pine and spruce against coronaviruses and oak against enteroviruses. The study emphasizes that the antiviral properties are primarily determined by the wood’s chemical composition. This pioneering research opens new avenues for utilizing untreated wood surfaces in public health applications and sets the stage for further investigation into bioactive compounds for sustainable antiviral materials.
Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and the University of Jyväskylä (JYU) have uncovered the antiviral properties of solid wood surfaces, offering a new perspective on virus transmission reduction. This collaborative research, supported by the Academy of Finland, has been published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, marking the first systematic evaluation of the antiviral efficacy of sawn wood material from various tree species.
Led by Varpu Marjomäki at JYU and Antti Haapala at UEF, the study assessed the antiviral potential of different wood species against enveloped coronaviruses and non-enveloped enteroviruses. This research addresses an urgent need highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and recurrent viral outbreaks, exploring the antiviral properties of wood—a material integral to human environments for centuries but not extensively studied for such capabilities.
Antiviral Wood Surfaces Key Findings
- Pine and Spruce: These coniferous species demonstrated remarkable antiviral activity against enveloped coronaviruses, significantly reducing viral infectivity within 10 to 15 minutes. However, their effectiveness against non-enveloped enteroviruses was less significant.
- Oak: This hardwood species showed notable efficacy against non-enveloped enteroviruses, indicating its broader antiviral applications.
- Chemical Composition: The study revealed that the antiviral properties of wood are primarily governed by its chemical composition, including resin acids, terpenes, and phenolic compounds. These chemicals vary significantly between species and are influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.
- Porosity and Absorption: While the porosity of the wood and the absorption characteristics of viruses play a role, the research emphasized that the wood’s chemical makeup is the key determinant of its antiviral functionality.
Antiviral Wood Implications and Future Directions
The study also discovered that thermal treatments and the incorporation of plastics into wood, such as in wood-plastic composites, can compromise the material’s antiviral properties. This insight opens new avenues for using untreated or minimally processed wood surfaces in public health applications.
Future research, part of the European Doctorate Programme DESTINY funded by the European Commission, will continue to investigate the most effective antiviral components of wood and their mechanisms of action. The goal is to identify specific bioactive compounds that can be harnessed to develop sustainable and effective antiviral materials and coatings.
“This study marks a significant step forward in understanding how natural materials can be leveraged to enhance public health,” said Varpu Marjomäki, lead virologist at JYU. “Our findings suggest that wood, a sustainable and widely available material, could play a crucial role in reducing viral transmission in various settings,” added Antti Haapala, lead material engineer at UEF.
