Background:
Healthcare-associate infections (HCAI) are considered a major challenge worldwide, a public health risk and an economic burden. Besides hand hygiene practices, the strategies to prevent HCAI include the use of disinfectants and cleaning of high-touch surfaces which favorite microbial transfer by hands. The emergence of novel pathogenic viruses and antibiotic-resistant bacteria have prompted research into developing alternative microbial materials such as plastics with long-term biocidal activity in nanostructured bulk material. Currently, there is a large amount of literature on multifunctional nanocomposites with improved mechanical and antimicrobial properties against bacteria and fungi, whilst data against viruses are lacking. This study aims to assess the _in vitro_ virucidal activity of three epoxy/clay nanocomposites against viruses transmitted by salivary droplets and/or through contact with contaminated objects/surfaces.

Methods:
Two natural clays from Morocco were used to reinforce the epoxy resins with 1% and 5% wt, achieving the clay dispersion by milling and mechanical stirring. A third nanocomposite was obtained adding 1, 3 and 5% wt Cloisite® 15A, a commercial montmorillonite, organically modified, containing quaternary ammonium chloride.

Results:
To date, only the experimental protocol has been developed. Four viruses will be tested: Human Coronavirus OC43, as a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate, Herpes Simplex Virus 1, chosen for its low environmental resistance and for its rapid _in vitro_ growth, Human Adenovirus type 5 and Monkeypox Virus, chosen for their high environmental persistence and resistance to treatments. Tablets of each nanocomposite and epoxy resin as control will be contaminated and after defined contact times the residual virus will be recovered and quantified by end-point titration.

Conclusion:
Our study could lead to the development of innovative epoxy/clay nanocomposites with virucidal activity for potential use in end-products such as food packaging, medical devices or hospital furniture, opening interesting perspectives in the treatment of surfaces potentially contaminated by viruses.