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Abstract
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Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out with a view to investigating the stability of the
SARS-CoV-2 exterior membrane with respect to two common disinfectants, namely, aqueous solutions of ethanol and n-propanol.
We used dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) as a model membrane material and did simulations on both gel and liquid
crystalline phases of membrane surrounded by aqueous solutions of varying alcohol concentrations (up to 17.5 mol %). While a
moderate effect of alcohol on the gel phase of membrane is observed, its liquid crystalline phase is shown to be influenced
dramatically by either alcohol. Our results show that aqueous solutions of only 5 and 10 mol % alcohol already have significant
weakening effects on the membrane. The effects of n-propanol are always stronger than those of ethanol. The membrane changes its
structure, when exposed to disinfectant solutions; uptake of alcohol causes it to swell laterally but to shrink vertically. At the same
time, the orientational order of lipid tails decreases significantly. Metadynamics and grand-canonical ensemble simulations were done
to calculate the free-energy profiles for permeation of alcohol and alcohol/water solubility in the DPPC. We found that the free-
energy barrier to permeation of the DPPC liquid crystalline phase by all permeants is significantly lowered by alcohol uptake. At a
disinfectant concentration of 10 mol %, it becomes insignificant enough to allow almost free passage of the disinfectant to the inside
of the virus to cause damage there. It should be noted that the disinfectant also causes the barrier for water permeation to drop.
Furthermore, the shrinking of the membrane thickness shortens the gap needed to be crossed by penetrants from outside the virus
into its core. The lateral swelling also increases the average distance between head groups, which is a secondary barrier to membrane
penetration, and hence further increases the penetration by disinfectants. At a
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