Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST says, "The nasal gel being developed in conjunction with other protective measures, will provide a strong extra layer of defense"
Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body
of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is supporting a technology
by the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering (DBB), IIT Bombay for
capturing and inactivation of novel corona virus, the causative agent of
COVID-19.
The funding will help the team from the Department of
Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay develop a gel that can be applied to
nasal passage, which is a major entry point of the corona virus. This solution is
not only expected to protect the safety of health workers, but can also lead to
reduction in community transmission of COVID-19, thereby helping disease
management.
Given the contagious nature of COVID-19, health providers
including doctors and nurses are at maximum risk while taking care of COVID-19
patients, particularly asymptomatic ones who cannot be detected and pose a
greater risk in spreading the disease.
The team is planning a 2-pronged approach to limit transmission
of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19. Primarily, since
viruses replicate within host cells of the lungs, the first component of the
strategy will be to inhibit binding of viruses to host cells. While this is
expected to reduce host cell infection, viruses will still remain active,
therefore, raising the need to inactivate them.
Secondly, biological molecules would be incorporated, which
would inactivate the trapped viruses in a manner similar to that of detergents.
Upon completion, this approach will lead to development of gels that can be
locally applied in the nasal cavity.
Prof
Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST said, "Our health care workers and others
working in the front-line of fight against the virus deserve a fool-proof, 200%
protection. The nasal gel being developed in conjunction with other protective
measures, will provide a strong extra layer of defense",
Prof. Kiran Kondabagil, Prof. Rinti Banerjee, Prof. Ashutosh
Kumar and Prof. Shamik Sen from the Dept. of Biosciences & Bioengineering
at IIT Bombay will be part of this project. The team has expertise in the areas
encompassing virology, structural biology, biophysics, biomaterials, and drug
delivery and it is expected that the technology would be ready in about 9
months.
(For further details,
contact Prof. Kiran Kondabagil, kirankondabagil@iitb.ac.in, Mob:
9619739630.)
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KGS/(DST)
(Release ID :201090)