Yokohama, Japan (20Th October 2022) – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd recently announced that it has jointly developed a technology with Tohoku University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences to inactivate viruses using catalyst active species for aerobic oxidation. she does.
The potential of this new technology
The technology has potential applications for inactivating viruses by oxidizing, denaturing and degrading proteins and other substances on the surface of the virus. With oxygen in the air acting as an oxidant, the catalytic species produces this effect even under dark conditions at room temperature without the need for light irradiation, as is usually the case for oxidation.
In addition to inactivating viruses – including the novel coronavirus – the technology can also inactivate pathogens such as fungi and bacteria. It has the potential for a wide range of future applications, including antibacterial and antiviral base materials in filters for air conditioning equipment and air purifiers, as well as use in masks and medical textile products.
Use of radical catalysts
This technology uses organic nitroxyl radical oxidation catalysts (radical catalysts). They oxidize organic compounds in the presence of suitable co-catalysts using molecular oxygen in ambient air acting as a terminal oxidant.
Studies of the effects of this technology have shown that oxammonium salts produced by radical catalysts through aerobic oxidation oxidize and inactivate virus surface proteins, thereby reducing their ability to bind to target cells. Is. Furthermore, processing the receptor binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV2 (omicron strain) significantly reduced the binding of the spike protein to the receptor. Using feline coronavirus – an alternative SARS-CoV2 virus – its infectious activity on feline renal cells was evaluated and a remarkable inhibition of infection-related morphological changes in the cells was observed.
Technology created using Nissan expertise
The technology was created by combining Nissan’s technologies and expertise in automotive development, and the technologies of Tohoku University’s faculty in drug development, drug evaluation and other pharmaceutical sciences, catalyst preparation and catalyst performance evaluation.
Radical catalysts are used as additives in the polymer base materials of automotive paints, as well as in fiber and organic polymer materials used in vehicle interiors and exteriors. They prevent photodegradation reactions (eg, cracking, concrete, fading) over long periods of time. Nissan is researching and developing the use of radical catalysts to inactivate viruses in an effort to maximize their catalytic activity and contribute more to society.