Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation and ozone gas are potential mechanisms employed to inactivate the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), each exhibiting distinct molecular-level modalities of action. To elucidate these disparities and deepen our understanding, we delve into the intricacies of SARS-CoV-2 inactivation via UV-C and ozone gas treatments, exploring their distinct molecular-level impacts utilizing a suite of advanced techniques, including biological atomic force microscopy (Bio-AFM) and single virus force spectroscopy (SVFS). Whereas UV-C exhibited no perceivable alterations in virus size or surface topography, ozone gas treatment elucidated pronounced changes in both parameters, intensifying with prolonged exposure. Furthermore, a nuanced difference was observed in virus-host cell binding post-treatment: ozone gas distinctly reduced SARS-CoV-2 binding to host cells, while UV-C maintained the status quo. The results derived from these methodical explorations underscore the pivotal role of advanced Bio-AFM techniques and SVFS in enhancing our understanding of virus inactivation mechanisms, offering invaluable insights for future research and applications in viral contamination mitigation.

Department of Biomedical Engineering Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419 Republic of Korea

Department of Experimental Biology Faculty of Science Masaryk University CZ 62500 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Medical Biology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia CZ 37005 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

Institute of Biophysics Johannes Kepler University Linz Linz A 4020 Austria

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences CZ 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

Samsung Electronics Suwon 16677 Republic of Korea

School of Mechanical Engineering Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419 Republic of Korea

Veterinary Research Institute CZ 62100 Brno Czech Republic

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