Scientists are working on breakthroughs that, using nanotechnology, could lead to a hospital bed or doorknob that naturally destroys viruses – ScienceDaily

In APL Bioengineering, by AIP Publishing, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science describe two possibilities being explored by scientists in the field to make vaccines more effective and build surfaces that can fight and kill viruses on their own.

“It’s not just important in terms of COVID,” said author Kaushik Chatterjee. “We have seen SARS, MERS, Ebola and many other viral infections that have come and gone. COVID has of course taken a whole new turn. Here we wanted to see how biomaterials could be useful. “

Biomaterials are materials designed to interact in one way or another with other biological systems. Examples include joint replacements, dental implants, surgical meshes, and drug delivery systems.

Nanotechnology, on the other hand, focuses on building tiny structures and devices at the microscopic level. It has been used in the medical field to target specific cells or tissues.

It is the combination of the two that could lead to more effective vaccines against viruses. While some current vaccines are already effective, the authors said nanoparticles made from biomaterials could one day be used to make them even stronger.

“It’s a way of stimulating immune cells that produce antibodies upon vaccination,” said author Sushma Kumari. “It’s like a helper, like priming the cells. Now, the moment they see the protein, the cells are more sensitive to it and would secrete more antibodies.”

At the same time, researchers are studying ways to use technology to curb the spread of viruses in the world around us. Currently, the techniques used to disinfect surfaces in public places, from conventional cleaning to aerosols to ultraviolet light, can be time consuming and labor intensive.

Emerging bioengineering technologies would create antiviral surfaces that could disinfect.

“As viruses end up as droplets on various surfaces, the next person who touches them could get the disease,” Chatterjee said.

By placing a natural load on the surface or designing it at the nano level in a virus hostile model, masks, PPE suits, hospital beds, doorknobs and other items could be created that damage or automatically destroy a virus.

The authors note that this research is in its early stages. There is still a long way to go to find out which of many biomaterials may be the most effective at fighting viruses, and an answer for one disease is unlikely to be the same for others.

“Hopefully this review and this kind of discussion will get researchers thinking about how to use the available knowledge,” Chatterjee said.

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Material provided by American Institute of Physics. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.