A novel method proposed to capture Covid viruses and Delta variant

By Dr. Mohan Abeyratne

Respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 popularly known as Covid-19, can be transmitted via airborne and fomite routes. A recent study using a target-based molecular modelling strategy combined with surface potential analysis of the NTD and RBD, the results indicated how the NTD and RBD of the spike protein binds to the ACE-2 receptor using its positive electrostatic potential.

Evolution of the surface Respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 popularly known as Covid-19, can be transmitted via airborne and fomite routes during exhalation, talking, and coughing in microdroplets small enough to remain aloft in air and pose a risk of exposure at distances beyond 1 to 2 m from an infected individual depending on the wind speed. The theoretical study has shown how the electropositive nature of some parts of the spike protein such as the N terminal domain (NTD), Receptor binding domain (RBD), three Polybasic cleavage sites and the Furin cleavage site play a vital role in binding to the ACE-2 receptor of human cells using its positive electrostatic potential.

Covid-19 virus is an evolving virus and presently the circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains over the world, there is a clear tendency to decrease its electronegative spots and increase electropositive surfaces and my analysis in this study has shown that the Delta Variant has the most electropositive binding sites of its spike protein. In future a more dominant strain having a higher transmissibility could be evolved having more electropositive biding sites in its spike protein than in Delta Variant.. The novel methods which are suggested in this theoretical study is more advantageous to capture viral particles before it reaches the human host cells. It is based on the above demonstrated positive electrostatic potential of the spike protein in the NTD, RDB, Furin and the three poly basic cleavage sites..

By emission of high concentration negative ions (some wearable ionic air purifiers generates 2 million negative ions/cm3 every 0.6 seconds around the user’s facial area to air surrounding the person) to capture positively charge SARS-CoV-2 viral particles which increases the weight of these particles due to electrostatic interactions causing them to drop to the surfaces/ ground. Tests have shown that these filters can remove 99.7% of Corona virus particles from the air. and able to remove 99.9% of virus from the air. Theoretically, inhaling air containing negative ions by wearable or large negative ion generators could neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 viral particles inside the alveolar cells of the lung tissues. Covid-19 patients could also inhale naturally available negative ions in places like beaches, waterfalls, mountains and getting exposed to sunlight and even during lightning. negative ions occur naturally as a result of air molecules breaking apart from sunlight and radiation as well as from the movement of air or water.