In an innovative approach aimed at curbing future virus outbreaks, research students at Southern Illinois University (SIU) are exploring advanced chemical technologies designed to deactivate or neutralize virus-spreading germs.
Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences professor Punit Kohli has successfully assembled a diverse team that includes local high school students, SIU undergraduate and graduate students, along with esteemed researchers such as Dr. Jose Vargas-Muniz from the College of Agriculture and Scott Hamilton-Brehm from the Department of Microbiology, to make significant strides in this important research endeavor.
The research group has also established a valuable partnership with molecular microbiologist Micheal Olson from the SIU Springfield location, tapping into his expertise and access to other dangerous bacteria for their testing purposes.
According to their recently published research paper, the innovative device they have developed employs electrically polarized nanoscale metallic (ENM) coatings to effectively deactivate a wide range of microorganisms in under ten minutes, showcasing a remarkable potential for rapid disinfection.
The research team is focusing on gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria—pathogens that pose significant health risks to humans—and has already reported encouraging results from their experiments.
Kohli revealed that his original vision was to create a self-sanitizing device for masks, intending to enhance protection against COVID-19. To bring this idea to fruition, he enlisted the help of PhD chemistry students Aswad Ali and Annie Vargas-Lizarazo to dive deep into the research process.
“So, we needed copper two (CuO) and then we needed to make the surface conductive, so we also have that kind of resources here,” Ali explained. “We started doing one step at a time, and then those experiments ultimately led to the creation of some devices, which we then tested for their ability to deactivate microbes. We began with two different bacteria, sourced from Dr. Hamilton-Brehm’s lab, and the results were promising.”
The prototype device is ingeniously constructed, featuring a small steel wool-like material at its core, which facilitates current flow. It operates using four batteries, connected with opposing wires to generate the necessary voltage to power the system.
Ali noted that when voltage is applied to the microbes suspended in a medium like water, it generates reactive oxygenated and chlorinated species that assist in microbial deactivation.
The utilization of gram-negative and positive bacteria is an essential aspect of their research strategy, as it explores the differences in resistance these microbes exhibit towards infections.
“That is the main reason we started with both of these,” Ali said, “because we do not know which particular gram-positive or particular gram-negative bacteria can cause more of the damage to human health. Later, we expanded our focus to include fungi and viruses as well, particularly with the aim of deactivating viruses like COVID-19.”
Vargas-Lizarazo shared that the initial stages of their research presented a myriad of challenges, particularly in sourcing appropriate testing materials for the microbes, as their expertise is primarily in chemistry. However, with valuable support from researchers like Hamilton-Brehm, Vargas-Lizarazo received the necessary laboratory training to conduct effective microbial testing.
“During all of this process, we have struggled to find the chemistry, but we have had many meetings, discussions, and ultimately discovered that our specific reactive oxygen and chlorinated species are pivotal in deactivating microbes,” Vargas-Lizarazo reflected.
A primary motivation driving this research is the alarming frequency of outbreaks occurring annually, Vargas-Lizarazo emphasized.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a measles outbreak in 2023 that infected over 10 million people around the globe. In the United States, the flu season continues to affect millions, resulting in about 34 million symptomatic illnesses, 15 million medical visits, and around 380,000 hospitalizations.
Vargas-Lizarazo pointed out that while the numbers of individuals affected by viruses are stark, they often do not reveal the full extent of the impact, which is why expanding the scope of their studies to address more dangerous diseases could be crucial in mitigating future outbreaks.
Kohli highlighted that this device could serve as a complementary method to traditional cleansing approaches, especially concerning antibiotics, which, while valuable, do not always eradicate pathogens entirely.
“If we can actually create new knowledge and understand the basic fundamental processes involved, that is very rewarding,” Kohli expressed. “We believe that ENM holds a lot more potential than we have yet to explore.”
If further developed, Kohli envisions that this technology could be utilized in numerous environments, ranging from face masks to flat surfaces, door handles, and hospitals, thereby enhancing public health safety.
“The other motivation was all the funding that at least I get, and both Annie and Muhammad Ali are supported through public money,” Kohli stated. “We feel a responsibility to contribute to broader societal needs and to humanity at large through our research and the development of these devices.”
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What innovative approaches did Professor Kohli and his team explore to enhance virus neutralization technologies?
**Interview with Professor Punit Kohli, Research Lead at SIU on Innovations in Virus Neutralization Technologies**
**Editor:** Good morning, Professor Kohli. Thank you for joining us to discuss your groundbreaking research at Southern Illinois University. Can you start by telling our readers what inspired the development of the innovative device aimed at deactivating virus-spreading germs?
**Professor Kohli:** Good morning, and thank you for having me. The inspiration really came from a desire to enhance public health safety, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to create a self-sanitizing device for masks to provide an additional layer of protection. With this goal in mind, I gathered a diverse team of students and researchers to conduct thorough research and develop a solution.
**Editor:** That collaboration sounds impressive. Could you elaborate on the team you’ve assembled and how their expertise contributes to the project?
**Professor Kohli:** Of course! Our team includes local high school students, undergraduate and graduate students from SIU, and esteemed researchers like Dr. Vargas-Muniz from the College of Agriculture and Dr. Hamilton-Brehm from the Department of Microbiology. Each member brings unique skills that are crucial. For instance, with the guidance of Dr. Hamilton-Brehm, we were able to source specific bacteria necessary for our experiments, while our chemistry students have handled the intricate research processes.
**Editor:** The use of electrically polarized nanoscale metallic coatings in your device is intriguing. How does this technology work to deactivate microorganisms?
**Professor Kohli:** The device works by applying voltage to the microbes suspended in a medium, which generates reactive oxygen and chlorinated species that effectively deactivate the microorganisms. Our initial prototypes showed promising results on both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria in under ten minutes, showcasing the potential for rapid disinfection.
**Editor:** That’s remarkable! Can you tell us about the challenges your team faced during the research, particularly in sourcing materials for microbial testing?
**Professor Kohli:** Absolutely. One of the main challenges was our team’s initial unfamiliarity with microbial testing since our expertise lies mainly in chemistry. There were moments of struggle in identifying the right materials for testing. However, through collaboration and support from experienced researchers, we overcame these hurdles and learned how pivotal our reactive oxygen and chlorinated species are for microbial inactivation.
**Editor:** Given the alarming frequency of outbreaks, as highlighted by the CDC’s data on measles and flu, how does your research seek to address public health concerns?
**Professor Kohli:** Our research is crucial because it aims to provide a tool that can swiftly neutralize harmful pathogens, which could help prevent widespread outbreaks in the future. The fact that we can decontaminate surfaces and materials in such a short time frame could potentially change how we handle virus transmission challenges.
**Editor:** Lastly, what future developments do you foresee for your team’s research?
**Professor Kohli:** We’re looking into expanding our focus beyond bacteria to include fungi and viruses, with an emphasis on various strains that pose health risks. The goal is to refine our prototypes and ensure they are effective for wider applications where rapid disinfection is critical.
**Editor:** Thank you, Professor Kohli. It’s clear your team’s innovative work is setting a powerful precedent in combating virus outbreaks. We wish you all the best in continuing this important research.
**Professor Kohli:** Thank you for having me. We’re excited about the potential impacts our work could have on public health.
