DISINFECTANTS
Activity of L(+)-lactic acid against enveloped viruses
Dr Felix Weiher, Alina Böhringer, Dr Natalie Dietz – Jungbunzlauer, Germany
Viral pandemics like COVID-19 occur when new strains of virus emerge, against which many people have not yet developed the appropriate immune response in the form of antibodies. The immune system can be stimulated to build these life-saving antibodies through vaccination. The other most important measure to combat
a virus outbreak is to stop or slow down its spread via droplets or aerosols. Consequently, social distancing, interrupting the hand-to-hand transmission route and hygiene are crucial. Washing hands is an effective way to reduce the pathogenic load on the hands. Disinfectants provide even better protection, due to the presence of active substances. A virus is a very small particle with its own
genome but without its own metabolism. A virus therefore needs a host to replicate. Viral replication takes place inside the target host cells during infection. Once inside the host cell, the virus is invisible to antibodies or drugs.
Viruses come in two different
forms: enveloped and non- enveloped. The latter consists only of the genome in the core of a very robust nucleocapsid. The former has an additional, relatively sensitive lipid bilayer. This envelope helps the virus to penetrate host cells, but also makes it more susceptible to destruction by soap, heat and disinfectants.
Antiviral efficacy inspired by nature The first point of contact of the active substance, in this case L(+)-lactic acid, is with the outmost layer of the virus particle. The composition of this outmost layer significantly influences its susceptibility to being destroyed by disinfectants.1
The outmost layer of an
enveloped virus consists of lipids, proteins and glycoproteins. The virucidal activity of lactic acid is thought
to be based on multiple mechanisms. The polar molecule lactic acid interacts with the lipid bilayer membrane. For monocarboxylic acids, the length of the aliphatic chain is key: the shorter the chain, the more active the acid.2 Organic acids act on the glycoprotein
structure of the envelope as well as the membrane. Glycoproteins are hydrophilic spikes that protrude from the surface of the outmost layer and are essential for interacting with the receptors of the targeted host cell. After penetrating the virus particle, lactic acid destroys or denatures the internal target sites.
www.personalcaremagazine.com Until recently the focus has always been
on the antibacterial efficacy of disinfectant formulations. This is reflected in the fact that many disinfectants claim antibacterial but not antiviral efficacy. The current pandemic is leading to a shift in perspective. Now antimicrobial substances that are effective against both bacteria and viruses are of interest. Lactic acid is one of these substances. This is an active substance with the power to combat both viruses and bacteria. L(+)-lactic acid is produced by fermentation of natural and renewable resources, and is readily biodegradable. As a liquid, it is easy to handle and to dose in surface and skin disinfectants, which are often liquid.
Virucidal formulations in demand There is currently a high demand for fast-action hand disinfectants, as well as disinfectant formulations that work on surfaces. Most hand disinfectants are formulated as gels to ensure 30-60 seconds contact time with the substance. They often contain ethanol or isopropyl alcohol
as their active substance. These alcohols show virucidal efficacy in concentrations of 60-95%, but they raise concerns with regard to fire safety and transportation. Moreover, disinfectants with a high alcohol
content may lead to dry skin if applied regularly. This makes the moisturising property of lactate, which is a component of the skin’s natural moisturising factor, particularly relevant.3
L(+)-lactate and potassium L(+)-lactate have a high water-holding capacity and a proven positive effect on skin hydration even after the removal of the natural moisturising factor.4 The serious ecological consequences arising
from the accumulation of plastics in nature and the finiteness of fossil raw materials are causing many consumers to give preference to products containing natural ingredients. Yet most common hand disinfectant gels are still formulated with thickeners based entirely or partially on fossil source. Natural alternatives are available,
including xanthan gum, a naturally occurring polysaccharide produced through non-GMO and sustainable fermentation of corn-derived glucose syrup. Xanthan gum’s most important functional property is the ability to control the viscosity and rheology of water-based products. Solutions of xanthan gum are highly shear-
thinning, which means they exhibit high viscosity at rest, but an easy and homogenous flow under
November2021 PERSONAL CARE Sodium ABSTRACT
Demand is increasing for efficient, yet more natural, sustainable and less hazardous active ingredients in surface and skin disinfectants. L(+)- lactic acid is one of few truly biobased active substances, being derived from renewable raw materials via fermentation and readily biodegradable. It is the ideal ingredient to improve the green profile of surface or hand disinfectants without compromising on efficacy. This paper describes L(+)-lactic acid as an active ingredient with dual power
against enveloped viruses and bacteria, with the main focus on its virucidal activity. An official EN standard test protocol was used to demonstrate the virucidal activity of Jungbunzlauer’s L(+)- lactic acid against enveloped viruses.
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