Pesticides, it seems, is part of our everyday lives as we try to kill that buzzing mosquito in the corner of the room. However, it is also a technology that has been able to increase crop yield and feed millions of people by eliminating insects that eat or infect crops. Similarly, Nanoviricide is a company that is trying to create the equivalent result against viruses.
To understand their technology, it is important to first understand the structure of a virus. As seen in the diagram to the right, a virus is primarily made up of three components: The Genetic Material, the Membrane Envelope, and the Ligands. The first of these three is stored on the inside of the virus. Once the virus attaches to the cell, the DNA or RNA enters the cell and eventually takes over the cell's machinery. Thereafter, instead of producing normal proteins needed for cell function, the cell produces copies of the virus until the cell no longer has enough nutrients to live and dies. The second of these, the membrane, protects the genetic information when the virus is not in a cell. The last is what NanoViricide attempts to take advantage of:
Simply put, the ligands on the virus are made such that they bind with the surface of the cell. NanoViricide thus creates a delivery capsule that mimics the virus's corresponding ligand, causing the virus to attach to the NanoViricide. Once this is done, the Virus can be easily killed.
The company has used its technology to help fight viruses such as HIV, Influenza and Bird Flu and shows an important use of nanotechnology in medicine.
To learn more about NanoViricide, click here!
To learn about the entry of the virus into the cell, click here!
To understand their technology, it is important to first understand the structure of a virus. As seen in the diagram to the right, a virus is primarily made up of three components: The Genetic Material, the Membrane Envelope, and the Ligands. The first of these three is stored on the inside of the virus. Once the virus attaches to the cell, the DNA or RNA enters the cell and eventually takes over the cell's machinery. Thereafter, instead of producing normal proteins needed for cell function, the cell produces copies of the virus until the cell no longer has enough nutrients to live and dies. The second of these, the membrane, protects the genetic information when the virus is not in a cell. The last is what NanoViricide attempts to take advantage of:Simply put, the ligands on the virus are made such that they bind with the surface of the cell. NanoViricide thus creates a delivery capsule that mimics the virus's corresponding ligand, causing the virus to attach to the NanoViricide. Once this is done, the Virus can be easily killed.
The company has used its technology to help fight viruses such as HIV, Influenza and Bird Flu and shows an important use of nanotechnology in medicine.
To learn more about NanoViricide, click here!
To learn about the entry of the virus into the cell, click here!
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