Highly Infectious And Spreading: 225 Outbreaks In Just 6 Months

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We wear masks and use hand sanitizer to protect ourselves from viruses, but imagine if we could add a layer of protection on the inside of our bodies.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed an inhalable dry powder that could protect lungs and airways from flu, pneumonia and the viruses that cause COVID-19. The powder reinforces the body's mucus layer.

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“The idea behind this work is simple – viruses have to penetrate the mucus in order to reach and infect the cells, so we’ve created an inhalable bioadhesive that combines with your own mucus to prevent viruses from getting to your lung cells,” Ke Cheng, an author of a paper about the research, said in a news release. “Mucus is the body’s natural hydrogel barrier; We are just enhancing that barrier.”

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The powder, called Spherical Hydrogel Inhalation for Enhanced Lung Defense, or SHIELD, has been tested in mice and African green monkeys. It reduced infections in both over a 24-hour period.

It is made with food-grade materials and does not affect normal respiratory functions, the researchers say.

In mice, the powder blocked particles designed to mimic the SARS-CoV-2 virus with 75% efficiency four hours after inhalation. That fell to 18% after 24 hours. SHIELD had similar results when tested against pneumonia and H1N1 influenza viruses, the researchers said.

In the monkey models of the original and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants, subjects that received SHIELD had viral loads 50 to 300 times less than control subjects and none of the common symptoms associated with COVID in primates. The researchers looked at viral load in the primates because they don't exhibit the same symptoms of infection as humans.

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“SHIELD is easier and safer to use than other physical barriers or anti-virus chemicals,” Cheng said. “It works like an ‘invisible mask’ for people in situations where masking is difficult, for example during heavy exercise, while eating or drinking, or in close social interactions. People can also use SHIELD on top of physical masking to have better protection."

Cheng told weather.com the team is working on an application to the Food and Drug Administration for approval to begin human clinical trials.

There's a possibility SHIELD wouldn't be limited to COVID or flu prevention.

“We’re looking at whether it could also be used to protect against things like allergens or even air pollution — anything that could potentially harm the lungs,” Cheng said.

The study appears in the journal Nature Materials.

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