An Inhaled Hydrogel Forms a Barrier against COVID
May 9, 2023 | Terry Sharrer
“In this work, we [researchers in the UNC/NCSU joint department in biomedical engineering] report a physical barrier against SARS-CoV-2 infection based on an inhalable bioadhesive hydrogel, named spherical hydrogel inhalation for enhanced lung defense (SHIELD). Conveniently delivered via a dry powder inhaler, SHIELD particles form a dense hydrogel network that coats the airway, enhancing the diffusional barrier properties and restricting virus penetration. SHIELD’s protective effect is first demonstrated in mice against two SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-viruses with different mutated spike proteins.” MORE
Image Credit: Nature.com