Prof. Choi Eunha and Prof. Nagendra of the Department of Electro-Biophysics and Plasma Bioscience Research Center (PBRC) Published a Paper on Coronavirus Inactivation Using Plasma-Generated Nitric Oxide (NO-PAW) 

[Potential Mechanism of NO-PAW Viral Inactivation in Human Lung Host Cells] 

Professor Choi Eunha and Professor Nagendra from the Department of Electro-Biophysics and PBRC recently collaborated with Professors Shin Youngoh, Park Jang-sik, Kim Doyoung, and Neha, and published a paper on the inactivation of coronavirus using plasma-generated nitric oxide (NO-PAW).

As the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) continues, it is affecting global health. Moreover, it is likely that new forms of coronavirus will continue to emerge that may affect the world in similar or more lethal ways and pose a threat to humanity.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective and biocompatible treatment options for coronavirus. The research team considered an environmentally friendly approach to virus inactivation based on plasma-based technology. The research team found that lung host cells infected with coronavirus were effectively inhibited by NO-PAW, which was imaged by evaluating the cellular lesion effect and expression of spike protein. NO-PAW showed minimal toxicity to lung host cells, suggesting the potential of NO-PAW for therapeutic application. This novel approach of applying plasma NO-PAW led to coronavirus inactivation, which significantly improved the level of genes involved in the host's antiviral response.

The findings of the research team serve as a starting point for advancing clinical development of antiviral treatments, including coronaviruses. This research team recently published their results in May 2022, Elsevier's publication Bioactive Materials (JCR ranking top 2.0%, influence index 17.36).

Research Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.05.005

[ (Left) Professor Choi Eunha (President of PBRC Center, Department of Electro-Biophysics) / (Right) Professor Nagendra (Director of PBRC Research Department, Department of Electro-Biophysics) ]