Drug Target Review: Could a nasal spray prevent COVID-19?
A UC study shows that a lipid might prevent infection and could potentially be easily administered
According to a study led by UC researchers, the lipid sphingosine may have the ability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and could potentially be delivered in a nasal spray to prevent COVID-19 infections.
Researchers, led by a visiting professor in the UC Department of Surgery Erich Gulbins, MD, have examined pre-existing research into bacterial respiratory tract infections and applied the findings to COVID-19, with some success. According to the scientists, a sphingosine nasal spray could potentially prevent or treat SARS-CoV-2 infections.
“We investigated whether a specific lipid [sphingosine] is able to interfere with the binding of SARS-CoV-2 to human epithelial cells,” said Gulbins, corresponding author on the study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Featured photo of the lipid sphingosine courtesy of Jynto.
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