Pune based start-up all set to launch non-toxic, gentler, long lasting hand sanitiser
21 Jun 2021
A Pune-based start-up has developed an alcohol free, aqueous, non-inflammable and non-toxic hand sanitiser that is both environment-friendly and gentle on the hands and does not dry them. Developed from Silver Nanoparticles, the new hand sanitiser will soon be available in the market.
Recurrent drying up of hands due to repeated application of hand sanitisers is a challenge which people have been faceing all through the Wuhan virus pandemic.
The hand sanitiser, developed by WeinnovateBiosolutions, prolongs antimicrobial activity thus obviating the need for repeated applications. Silver nanoparticles give slow and sustained release of silver ions to kill microorganisms that come in contact. Besides, it can be stored in ambient conditions.
The new hand sanitiser has successfully completed Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) approved clinical trials demonstrating high efficiency in killing viruses.
WeinnovateBiosolutions was supported by Cawach 2020 grant of the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and incubated at Entrepreneurship Development Centre (Venture Centre), Pune. They developed the colloidal silver solution-based hand sanitiser. The technology operates on the ability of the silver nanoparticles to prevent the synthesis of viral negative-strand RNA and viral budding.
“We are very confident of the study outcomes and waiting to get the licence for our hand sanitiser formulation from CDSCO, India. We are sure that such innovation will push India towards its 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' mission and make India a self-sustained nation to face such pandemics in future”, said Dr Anupama Engineer, cofounder and COO WeinnovateBiosolutions.
Silver nanoparticles have been found to be an effective antiviral which act against many deadly viruses like HIV, Hepatitis B, Herpes simplex virus, Influenza virus, and so on. Recent reports have suggested the role of glutathione capped-Ag2S NCs (silver nanoclusters) in inhibiting the proliferation of coronavirus by preventing the synthesis of viral negative-strand RNA and viral budding. The colloidal silver on which the technology of the sanitisers of WeinnovateBiosolutions is based can help arrest SARS-CoV-2 spread by blocking the RNA replication and infectivity by blocking the surface glycoproteins, says a health ministry release.
A study to evaluate the efficacy of hand sanitiser on different types of viruses is also currently underway.