Researchers develop plasma-based green disinfectant that can limit Covid19 spread

Team L&M

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 Covid19. This is much better than most decontaminants that consist of chemicals which are hazardous for the environment.

A team of scientists Dr Kamatchi Sankaranarayanan, Dr Mojibur R Khan, and Dr H Bailung from the Life Sciences and Physical Sciences divisions from the Institute of the Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), an autonomous research institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, Guwahati, Assam 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.

This research, recently published in the international journal of the RSC (Royal Society of Chemistry) Advances, shows that short-lived highly reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) generated in the plasma lead to complete deactivation of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein occurs within two minutes 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.

The lead authors Dr. Kamatchi Sankaranarayanan and Dr. H. Bailung said that the disinfection method could further be extended for various bacterial or fungal infections.

The research was conducted at the Covid-19 testing and research facility of IASST which according to Director Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee has carried out more than 1.54 lakhs tests till date.