818
Views & Citations10
Likes & Shares
Since it emerged for
the first time in Wuhan city of China in December 2019, coronavirus has become
a global pandemic. COVID-19 virus is reported to be a new member of the beta
coronavirus genus and is closely related to severe acute respiratory
syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and several bat coronaviruses. Indeed, CoVs are
positive-stranded RNA viruses with a crown-like appearance. It contains four
structural proteins, namely envelope small membrane protein (E), spike
glycoprotein (S), membrane protein (M) and nucleoprotein (N). The S, M and E
proteins together form the envelope of the virus. The M protein is the most
abundant, mostly responsible for the shape of the envelope. The E protein is
the smallest structural protein.
Till some appropriate vaccine or medicine is developed, the best way to
prevent ourselves from this virus is to maintain physical distancing and using
masks and hand gloves. The face mask prevents the virus to enter into the human
body through the eyes, mouth and nose. As a chemist, I propose to prepare hand gloves
that could retain the virus, followed by it death in alkaline soap solution.
The cotton gloves are proposed to be treated with dilute solution of Chitosan, a semi-synthetic
linear polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed β-(1→4)-linked D-glucosamine
(deacetylated unit) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (acetylated unit). If the mask
is treated with Chitosan solution, it will be absorbed into cotton matrix (i.e.
a cellulosic network). Now, we propose to treat this chitosan-entrapped mask
with aqueous solution of CuSO4, resulting in strong coordination of Cu with
protonated-NH3+ groups. Now this mask can be used to retain virus. The proposed
mechanism involves binding of available active site of Cu atom with nitrogen
atom present in proteins, particularly S and M proteins. This strong attachment
will retain the virus on the surface of mask. Now, the mask can be immersed in
a soap solution which will finally destroy the virus. The major advantage of
using this mask is that it will destroy virus unlike present masks that just
prevent it from getting in human body. In the video talk, a detailed account of
preparation and mechanism of action of proposed masks and gloves shall be
presented.
Keywords: COVID-19, COVID-19 prevention, Physical distancing,
Chitosan
QUICK LINKS
- SUBMIT MANUSCRIPT
- RECOMMEND THE JOURNAL
-
SUBSCRIBE FOR ALERTS
RELATED JOURNALS
- Journal of Allergy Research (ISSN:2642-326X)
- International Journal of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics (ISSN: 2689-7687)
- Archive of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine (ISSN:2640-2297)
- Journal of Neurosurgery Imaging and Techniques (ISSN:2473-1943)
- International Journal of Medical and Clinical Imaging (ISSN:2573-1084)
- Journal of Pathology and Toxicology Research
- Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology Research (ISSN:2640-6136)