UAB researchers have developed nanoparticles that neutralize ‘large’ amounts of Covid-19
They highlight its “potential” in the production of antiviral materials.
BARCELONA, November 6 (EUROPE PRESS) –
Researchers from the Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (IBB-UAB) have developed nanoparticles capable of capturing and neutralizing “large” quantities of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, also known as Covid-19, UAB reports. this Wednesday in a statement.
The study, published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials, made it possible to create a new class of nanostructures that neutralize coronavirus both in liquid solutions and on the surface of materials.
The new nanoparticles, LCB1-NP and LCB3-NP, are formed by repeating three proteins (ZapB, mCherry and LCB1 or LCB3, respectively) so that they incorporate the functionality of each of them.
To test the effectiveness of the nanoparticles, the researchers conducted an experiment in which they used them to make a viral filter that contained and neutralized “large” quantities of SARS-CoV-2.
COMPOSITION OF NANOPARTICLES
UAB researcher Mark Font explained that each nanoparticle is made “of multiple LCB1 or LCB3 proteins, so it has multiple binding sites for the virus.”
Font explained that this characteristic “tremendously increases the potential of the antiviral material” compared to other materials that can only bind to the viral particle.
FILTERS FOR WATER AND AIR
Possible applications for the new nanoparticles include filtering wastewater from patients affected by Covid-19 to prevent it from entering the water supply, as well as filtering air in sensitive environments such as hospital wards.
The researchers also propose using them in the production of new ultra-sensitive tests for diagnosing coronavirus in the early stages of infection, when the viral load is “still very low.”
UAB researcher Salvador Ventura said the new nanoparticles are “of great interest” for the industrial production of antiviral materials due to the ease, speed and low cost of their creation.
PARTICIPANTS
The study involved the Institute of Research and Innovation of Parc Tauli (I3PT), the Catalan Institute for Research and Research of Advances (Icrea), IrsiCaixa and the Institute for Research on the German Triassic and Pujol (IGTP).
The event was also attended by the Network Biomedical Research Center for Infectious Diseases (Ciberinfec) and the Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC).