Exploring UV-222 Nano Meter Future Implications and Prospects in Electro Mobility

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to the necessity of an adequate disinfection system to fight dangerous and contagious diseases. Current cleaning procedures are frequently laborious and time-consuming. Researchers are investigating the use of cutting-edge technologies to safeguard the worldwide populace against the spread of viruses and other illnesses to address this issue. A UV-222 nm light-based disinfection system has been suggested as a possible remedy in this regard to counteract the impacts of viruses and maintain a clean and secure environment. The implementation of UV-222 nm light-based disinfection systems and their prospective influence on healthcare technology are the main topics of this article. The technology can address issues with the spread of viruses and bacteria in a variety of contexts, including car headlights, public lighting, interior lights in homes, and other sterilising techniques. Additionally, the high-way geometry of UVC sterilisation has been theoretically formulated and investigated. Healthcare professionals, medical physicists, biomedical and clinical engineers, and other associated groups are the target audience for this article. In order to enhance patient safety, disease surveillance, and management, the study discusses the potential advantages of UV-222 nm light-based disinfection systems. We also talk about the ethical, moral, and legal ramifications of using such technology. In conclusion, this research offers a fresh viewpoint on UV-222 nm light-based disinfection systems and their prospective influence on medical technology. In order to improve patient care and safety, we hope that this conversation will promote additional research and development in the area of healthcare technology.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

The World Health Organization first identified illness due to coronavirus (COVID-19) in December 2019 which was considered an epidemic initially and declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. With more than 65.7Cr confirmed cases and more than 66.8L confirmed fatalities as of Dec 27, 2022, despite significant efforts to control its spread. According to statistics obtained from Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering, COVID-19 affected the entire world and caused several concerns such as health risks among people, resulting in about 66 lakh deaths worldwide by 2022.[1] The CDC (Center for Disease Control) states that UV (Ultraviolet light) plays a vital role in virus disinfection. In 1835, Wheatstone invented mercurial (Hg) vapor arc lighting that emits UV through gas discharging. UV was first employed to clean drinking water in 1906. Henri (1914) was the first to show that ultraviolet light had a photochemical impact on bacteria [2]

KrBr 207 nm and FAR-UV KrCl 222 nm Beginning in 2000, far-UVC excimers were initially applied to chemicals and microorganisms to kill the virus and bacteria[3]. UV light is the focus of the current study. UV light with a wavelength of 222 nm is used in vehicle headlight systems to sterilize viruses and bacteria found on highways and in travel areas. That UVC with shorter wavelengths (207–222 nm) is safe for mammalian skin. When the light is distributed via the headlight and falls over the road or traveling locations, UV light kills viruses and bacteria by damaging the microorganism's DNA and RNA, which affects pathogens and slows their growth.

The Process of Deactivating Viruses And Bacteria By Uv-C Light With A Wavelength Of 222 Nanometers (Nm)

Absorption: UV-C light with a wavelength of 222nm is highly absorbed by DNA and RNA molecules within microorganisms, due to its high energy and the resonance of its wavelength with the molecular bonds in nucleic acids. According to a study by Sagripanti and Lytle, "the absorption of UV-C light by DNA and RNA depends on the wavelength of the light and the composition of the nucleic acid. At a wavelength of 222 nm, the absorption coefficient of DNA is about 15-fold higher than at 254 nm, which is the wavelength typically used for UV germicidal lamps."

Formation of Photoproducts: The excitation of electrons in nucleic acids by UV-C light leads to the formation of reactive intermediates called photoproducts, including cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and pyrimidine-pyrimidone (6-4) photoproducts. According to a study by Cadet and Wagner, "CPDs are formed by the covalent bonding of adjacent pyrimidine bases (usually thymine or cytosine) in the DNA, causing a kink in the DNA helix that interferes with replication and transcription. 6-4 photoproducts are formed by the bonding of a pyrimidine base with an adjacent pyrimidine base in the opposite strand of DNA, leading to the formation of a bulge in the DNA helix."[3]

Damage to Genetic Material: The formation of CPDs and 6-4 photoproducts can cause significant damage to the DNA molecules within the microorganism. This damage can lead to mutations, strand breaks, and other forms of damage that interfere with the normal replication and transcription processes required for the microorganism's survival and reproduction. According to a study by Mouchet et al., "UV-C exposure causes a wide range of DNA damages including single and double-strand breaks, nucleobase modifications, and DNA-protein crosslinks."[4]

Deactivation: The damage to the genetic material of the microorganism ultimately leads to its deactivation. This is because the microorganism is unable to carry out its normal cellular processes due to the DNA damage caused by UV-C light. Over time, the microorganism may undergo further damage and die off completely. According to a study by Kowalski et al.,  "UV-C at 222 nm was shown to be more effective at inactivating bacterial and viral pathogens than conventional UV-C lamps, and caused minimal damage to human skin cells."[4-5]

Figure 2 demonstrates electromagnetic waves with frequencies ranging from 0.01 nm to 1 mm, which are included in the electromagnetic spectrum. The current vehicle headlight system focuses on germicidal UV Light with a wavelength of 222 nm, which has a wavelength between 100 nm and 400 nm. UV light is categorized into four categories based on wavelength where the current study demonstrates the utilization of UV-C germicidal. When viruses and bacteria are exposed to UV light from the UV headlamp, which causes the production of pyrimidine dimers in DNA, resulting in DNA lesions, cellular enzyme dysfunction, and cytoplasmic membrane integrity loss.[7] UV radiation from the UV headlamp has the ability to destroy viruses, bacteria, and microorganisms, as well as limit bacterial replicating abilities. Shorter wavelength UVC light has a narrower penetration range, so it cannot pass through the stratum corneum of the skin or the outer layer of the eye.[8] However, it is safe for deeper layers of living cells because it can still enter the bacterial cell nucleus. A study found that 222 nm UVC light is equally effective in killing bacteria and viruses without causing cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) in the skin.[9]

Contrarily, it is possible to examine the effectiveness of this light against airborne human coronaviruses such as alpha-HCoV-229E and beta-HCoV-OC43. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the beta coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is thought to occur both through direct contact and airborne routes. Studies of SARS-CoV-2 have shown viability in aerosols for at least 3 hours. Low doses of 1.7 and 1.2 mJ/cm2 inactivated 99.9% of aerosolized coronaviruses 229E and OC43. It is crucial to investigate viable mitigation methods that may inactivate the airborne virus in the public road and traveling regions and reduce airborne transmission given the disease's fast spread, especially through asymptomatic carriers.[10]

Conclusion

In this study, 222-nm UVC headlight irradiation was shown to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 contamination. As far as intensity and power consumption are concerned, UV-222 nm headlights are similar to standard headlights. In addition, UV-222nm lighting contributes significantly to the sterilization of viruses and germs while driving at night without affecting the human skin or eyes negatively. It will also be safer if you travel at night through infested areas. In addition to being used in vehicles, this technology is also capable of preventing and controlling COVID-19 infection. Irradiation with 222-nm UVC headlamps may have a positive effect on reducing contamination of real-world surfaces and the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but further studies are needed to evaluate its safety and efficacy.

References

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Copyright © 2023 Darshan Gowda S G. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.