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Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), approves the funding of technology by the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering (DBB), IIT Bombay for capturing and inactivation of Coronavirus, the causative agent of COVID-19.

The funding will help the team from the DBB, IIT Bombay to develop a gel that can be applied to the nasal passage, which is a major entry point of the 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 in 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 two-pronged approach to limit transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, popularly known as Coronavirus. Primarily, since viruses replicate within host cells of the lungs, the first component of the strategy will be to inhibit the 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 the development of gels that can be locally applied in the nasal cavity. Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST said, “Our health care workers and others working in the front-line to fight against the virus deserve a fool-proof, 200 percent protection. The nasal gel being developed in conjunction with other protective measures will provide a strong extra layer of defence.”

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Professor Kiran Kondabagil, Professor Rinti Banerjee, Professor Ashutosh Kumar and Professor Shamik Sen from DBB at IIT Bombay will be a 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.

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