Funding approved by DST to develop Nasal Passage Gel for COVID-19
The Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering and IIT Madras have developed a nasal passage gel that will inactivate COVID1-9. The funding to support the technology is to be provided by SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board), a statutory body operating under Department of Science and Technology.
What is the plan?
The team formed from the two institutes will work on two approaches. They are as follows
Plan I
Under one approach, the plan is to create a causative agent that will prevent the virus from binding to the host cells. This method will reduce the probability of the host cells being infected. Later the viruses are inactivated using a drug or other technology. This technology will only support prevention of binding.
Plan II
Another approach is to inactivate the virus by trapping them. This method traps the virus similar to that of detergents. Through the method, the team intends to develop gels that can be applied in the nasal cavity.
The technologies are to be completed in 9 months-time.
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Month: Current Affairs - April, 2020