Au NPs are much less toxic than Ag NPs. Au NPs can emit intense heat under the sunlight to inactivate viruses. One study found that Au NPs can inactivate bacteriophages MS2 and PR772 through photothermal process. Another study found that Au NPs can kill pathogens by generating an effective plasmon-enhanced shockwave and altering virus membranes.

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Definition: Ag and Au nanoparticles and nanorods can induce heating when illuminated at optimal wavelength, corresponding to the plasmon resonance condition, in a process called plasmonic photothermal treatment. The proposed underlying mechanism is plasmon-enhanced shockwave generation, which alters virus membrane and/or surface groups and, therefore, reduces virus binding and fusion with the host cell. 

Plasmonic nanoparticles for photothermal inactivation of the virus include but are not limited to the following:

- Ag nanoparticles

- Au nanoparticles


Photothermal Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 with Nanomaterial

Weiss C, Carriere M, Fusco L, et al. Toward Nanotechnology-Enabled Approaches against the COVID-19 Pandemic. ACS Nano. 2020;14(6):6383-6406. doi:10.1021/acsnano.0c03697

Toward Nanotechnology-Enabled Approaches against the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ag nanoparticles loaded on filter surfaces were found to effectively suppress bacteriophage MS2 activity. Ag nanoparticles may be an effective antiviral material against SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings, or to air filters or face masks. However, further study is needed.

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