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(IANS)
Researchers have created a plasma-based disinfectant using Cold Atmospheric pressure Plasma (CAP), which can be used as an environment-friendly decontaminant for COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of de-contaminants that can prevent the spread of infectious diseases via contact. The majority of decontaminants contained potentially hazardous chemicals.
This encouraged the researchers to explore greener options. The plasma generated by CAP could be used to activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. The protein binds with the human ACE2 receptor and causes viral infection.
When plasma is produced in controlled laboratory conditions, it is called Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma. Plasma is the fourth state of matter and makes up the majority the universe. Stable plasma was formed when plasma-forming gases such as Helium and Argon were passed through high voltage electric field. This plasma is composed of a mixture electrons and ions, and emits a pink glow in the reaction chamber.
This study was recently published in an international journal. Advances of Royal Society of Chemistry, showed that the SARS-2 virus was completely killed by the plasma’s short-lived highly reactive oxygen or nitrogen species. RTPCR analysis also revealed that CAP could deactivate SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA.
Researchers argued that CAP was a better disinfection method than the more hazardous chemical-based methods. According to the study, cold atmospheric plasma is safer for the environment as no chemical waste is created during plasma treatment.
Bailung and Sankaranarayanan were the authors of this article. They noted that the disinfection procedure could be extended for fungal and bacterial infections.
The research was carried out at the COVID-19 research and testing facility of the Institute of the Advanced Study in Science and Technology in Guwahati (Assam). Ashis K.Mukherjee (director) said that the centre has conducted more than 1.54 lakhs test to date.
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The headline and text of the above article were published from a wire source.
