JNCASR develops antimicrobial coating to stop spread of viruses

The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore has developed an antimicrobial coating to tackle the spread of deadly viruses.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) has developed an antimicrobial coating to tackle the spread of deadly influenza virus, the main cause behind severe respiratory infections.

The Science and Engineering Research Board, a unit of the DST will help JNCASR for the further development of this coating, to help country in its fight against COVID-19. the Ministry of Science said in a statement.

"The coating which has proven efficient in 100% destruction of the influenza virus (an enveloped virus) is expected to be effective in destroying COVID-19 virus as well, as it is also another enveloped virus upon contact," the statement said. 

The technology which is simple and hence does not require skilled professionals for its development is already set to be tested against COVD 19, the statement added. 

If found to be active, a number of Personal Protective Equipments, such as masks, gowns, gloves, face shields, used by healthcare staffs can be coated with it, imparting enhanced protection and safety to them.

This will help doctors, nurses and other medical staff to fight the battle against COVID 19 more effectively.

Speaking on this new development by JNCASR, Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST, said it is indeed a proud moment that the best of our research institutions globally acknowledged for deep strengths in basic sciences are increasingly translating their knowledge into challenging and useful applications. This product by JNCASR is the best example of that.

The coating has been developed by Professor Jayanta Haldar's group at JNCASR including Sreyan Ghosh, Dr. Riya Mukherjee, and Dr. Debajyoti Basak.