In news– Recently, the researchers have developed a plasma-based disinfectant generated with the help of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) which could act as a green decontaminant for COVID 19.
About the disinfectant-
- A team of scientists from the Life Sciences and Physical Sciences divisions from the Institute of the Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) has demonstrated that the plasma generated by cold atmospheric pressure (CAP) has the potential to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which binds to human ACE2 receptor for inducing viral infection and subsequent Covid-19.
- Plasma, the fourth state of matter which makes up most of the universe when produced in controlled conditions in the lab and is termed as Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (CAP).
- The scientists passed plasma forming gases such as Helium, Argon, and Air through a high voltage electric field which led to the formation of a stable plasma with a mixture of ions, and electrons emitting a pink glow of CAP inside the reaction chamber.
- This research showed that short-lived highly reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) generated in the plasma led to complete deactivation of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein occurring within 2 min of CAP treatment.
- The RT-PCR analysis has also established that CAP can deactivate the RNA of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- The researchers showed that the CAP, a plasma-based disinfection method, is a better alternative to environmentally hazardous chemical-based decontamination methods.
- The cold atmospheric plasma is environmentally safe since, during the entire decontamination process by plasma treatment, no chemical waste is produced.
- As per the researchers, the disinfection method could further be extended for various bacterial or fungal infections.
Institute of the Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST)-
- It is an autonomous research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, Guwahati, Assam.
- IASST was conceived and nurtured by the Assam Science Society in its initial years and was inaugurated by Noble Laureate Dorothy C. Hodgkin on 3rd November 1979.
- Subsequently, it was supported by the state govt. as its only autonomous R&D institute till March 2009.
- The institute was taken over in March 2009 by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt of India as one of its autonomous R&D Institutes.
The Institute is engaged in multidisciplinary research activities, both in fundamental and applied, across frontier areas of science and technology such as Plasma Physics, Polymer Sciences, Biochemistry, Drug Design & Development, Nano-science, Medicinal Plants, Seri Biotechnology, Microbial Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences, Microbial Fuel Cell, etc.
Source: PIB
