Ananya Ghosal, MAKAUT(WB)
The increasing rate of the variants of Coronavirus resulting in an outpouring of diseases in the whole world. The mutation occurring in the spike protein of the virion raise the question of vaccine effectiveness and allows greater transmission. Effective inactivation of the virus is required to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants from person to person via surface transmission or airborne.
Use of nanoworms:
To completely inactivate viral particles and degrade their RNA, the water-borne spray-on coating is used. Nanoworms bind and are then large nanoscale conformational changes occurs, that ruptures the viral membrane and finally binding and degrading its RNA. The coating entirely inactivates SARS-CoV-2 and the variants of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and the surrogate capsid pseudovirus. which expresses influenza virus attachment glycoprotein, hemagglutinin.
The main function of poly galactose on the nanoworms is to target the conserved S2 subunit on the surface spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 virion for stronger binding and the attachment of Guanidine groups helps in catalyzing the degradation of the RNA genome. The coating of nano worms on surgical masks gives a significant control measure for SARS-CoV-2 and its variant by completely inactivating VICo1 and B.1.1.7. By using nano worms system we get broad viral inactivation, inactivation of influenza A and an AAV-HA capsid pseudovirus was observed. This is an environmentally friendly technology were coating with a nano chemical mechanism for the inactivation of enveloped as well as capsid virus. In future pandemics, the functional nanoworms can be revised to target viruses that are compatible with large scale manufacturing processes.
The extra layer of protection from COVID-19
The antiviral surface coating technology gives an extra layer of protection when sprayed on a face mask against COVID-19 or any flu. The antiviral surface coating technology was developed at the University of Queensland and is already proven to be effective in destroying the virus which causes COVID-19 which further act as a barrier against transmission on the face mask as well as the surfaces. Professor Michael Monteiro, a researcher from UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology stated that water-based coating deployed worm-like- structures which attack the virus.
Professor Monteiro further stated that when the surgical mask was sprayed with nanoworms which results in complete inactivation of the alpha variant of influenza A and SARS-CoV-2. The coating is a joint research product that was developed with Boeing which was tested by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at The University of Melbourne.
Conclusion
The membrane of virus droplets was transmitted through saliva, sneezing or coughing and causing damage to the RNA by rupturing the polymer nano worms. The chemistry behind is flexible, as the coating can be developed which target viruses which further controls future pandemics. Monteiro stated that to prevent or reduce community transmission face masks will continue to be an essential part of COVID-19. He also stated that to remove aerosolised and surface transmission, antiviral coating when applied on mask surface can give long-lasting control measures and decrease infection. COVID-19 provides a direct route of interaction as COVID-19 remains infectious many hours or days on some surface. Hence there is a great significance in eliminating both airborne as well as surface transmission by vaccinating the population to stop the current pandemic. The nano worm coating is water-based, does not causes any harm to the environment and synthesis is put in the order with manufacturing techniques which is used in the paint and coating industry.
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Reference:
- Bobrin, V. A., Chen, S.-P., Grandes Reyes, C. F., Sun, B., Ng, C. K., Kim, Y., Purcell, D., Jia, Z., Gu, W., Armstrong, J. W., McAuley, J., & Monteiro, M. J. (2021). Water-borne nanocoating for rapid inactivation of sars-cov-2 and other viruses. ACS Nano, 15(9), 14915–14927. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.1c05075
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