Chinese scientists have recently developed a nanomaterial that can target the spike protein of various variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, including delta and omicron, and contribute to the destruction of the virus.
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A Chinese study published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology shows that an ultra-thin 2D composite copper, indium, phosphorus, and sulfur (CIPS) nanosheet could be a novel tool to fight SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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According to the data of the studies, the CIPS nanomaterial demonstrated an extremely high and selective ability to bind to the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and its variants.
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Thus, when using CIPS, the virus is quickly destroyed by the macrophages of the host, which suggests that the corresponding nanomaterial can be used to capture the virus and facilitate the destruction of the virus by the host itself.
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Tests carried out on mice show that the nanomaterial can block the entry of the virus into cells, as well as effectively treat pneumonia in mice caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Relevant studies demonstrate the potential of CIPS as a nanodrug for the safe and effective treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as a decontaminant.
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The nanomaterial itself and its antiviral mechanism were jointly developed by scientists from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, the Institute of High Energy Physics at the CAS, and the Kunming Institute of Zoology.
