Scientists at Australia’s RMIT University have developed a flexible plastic film that can kill 94% of viruses on its surface within one hour of contact.

The material is made from a polymer and covered with extremely tiny structures known as nanopillars. These microscopic spikes work by invading viruses and stretching their outer layer until they rupture.

According to ScienceDaily, this stretching approach appears to be more effective than earlier methods designed to puncture viruses. In laboratory experiments using the human parainfluenza virus 3 (hPIV-3) — which can cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia — 94% of virus particles were either destroyed or severely damaged, rendering them ineffective.

"As nanofabrication tools get better, our results give a clearer guide to which nanopatterns work best to kill viruses," said study lead author Samson Mah from RMIT University, adding that the team intentionally used low-cost materials that could be easily manufactured.

"We could one day have surfaces like phone screens, keyboards and hospital tables covered with this film, killing viruses on contact without using harsh chemicals,” he predicted. “Our mold can be adapted to roll-to-roll manufacturing, meaning antiviral plastic films could be produced at scale with existing factory equipment."

Researchers found that effectiveness depends on the spacing of the nanopillars, with the best results seen when they are about 60 nanometers apart.

So far, the research has focused on hPIV-3, a virus with a fatty outer membrane. The team plans to expand testing to smaller and non-enveloped viruses to better understand how broadly the technology can be applied.

Scientists also want to determine whether the textured film is effective against viruses with curved surfaces, which could affect the optimal spacing of the nanopillars.

Study author Elena Ivanova said the team is eager to move the technology toward practical use.

“We think this texturing is a strong candidate for everyday use and we’re ready to partner with companies to refine it for large-scale manufacturing,” she said.