Researchers win award for proving 3D printing material can kill Covid-19

Researchers at the University of Wolverhampton have been recognised for their contribution to outstanding scholarly research after being announced as the winners of the Emerald Literati Award 2022. 
 
For almost 30 years the Emerald Literati Awards have celebrated and rewarded the outstanding contributions of authors and reviewers.  

The team of researchers were announced as winners after a successful collaboration project found that a 3D printing material kills 100% of the Covid-19 virus.  

In 2021, the University of Wolverhampton's Additive Manufacturing Functional Materials (AMFM) research group and the Catholic University of Valencia’s Biomaterials and Bioengineering Lab published an exciting new collaborative research reporting the development of an antiviral copper-tungsten-silver (Cu-W-Ag) material that kills the Covid-19 virus. 

The project was led by the University of Wolverhampton’s Dr Arun Arjunan, Dr John Robinson and Dr Ahmad Baroutaji, who partnered with Dr Ángel Serrano-Aroca’s group to assess the antiviral performance of 3D printing materials that could offer the potential for preventative virus transmission and on-demand manufacturing. 
 
Dr Arun Arjunan, Director of the Centre for Engineering Innovation and Research (CEIR) at the University, said: "The Covid-19 pandemic brought forth unprecedented challenges, and our study demonstrates how redistributed manufacturing of 3D printed antiviral materials can play a pivotal role in providing rapid and effective solutions. 

“The study not only presents a novel methodology for 3D printing the Cu-W-Ag alloy, but it also showcases the potential of redistributed manufacturing in responding to the evolving challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our work opens up new possibilities in the fight against the virus and paves the way for innovative approaches to tackling future pandemics.” 

The award-winning research has been published as open access to allow researchers and industry experts to access the data freely.  

Find out more about the University's research in the University’s eZene, Research Matters - showcasing our research successes and news from the sector. 

ENDS