New projects that seek solutions to problems caused by the spread of coronavirus

Estonian Research Council supports projects that seek solutions to problems caused by the spread of coronavirus and to mitigate its consequences.
A total of 2.1 million euros is distributed and the projects must be completed by the end of 2021.

The call for proposals was aimed at further developing existing research results or finding and testing new uses. The development of prototypes for innovative solutions, products and services will be supported in five areas:
materials and surface treatment agents inhibiting the spread of the virus; new types of personal protective equipment; technological solutions for the reduction of virus particles in indoor air;
technological solutions to reduce the workload on the health care sector; and solutions based on data analysis to assess the spread of the virus and to predict the impact of measures.

Angela Ivask, Professor of Genetics, received a grant “Universal treatment method for antiviral protection of hard to clean surfaces”, which is a collaboration between the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Physics and Institute of Technology, University of Tartu. The main goal of this collaborative project is to propose an antiviral surface treatment methodology for porous structured materials that in real life are difficult to clean. The application area of the resulting antiviral surfaces would be very wide, ranging from textiles and pillow feathers to polymeric materials. The antiviral surface treatment will be based on silver formulations with known antimicrobial activity - colloidal silver and faster acting silver ion, as well as colloidal cerium oxide. The main advantages of the developed surface treatment method are: (i) it´s versatility including the possibility to use spraying for it´s (re) application to already existing surfaces, and (ii) it´s tested efficacy towards influenza and coronavirus in close to real-life conditions.

As an additional result of the project, local competence for assessment of the antiviral activity of materials will be developed.
The duration of the project is 14 months (01.11.2020-31.12.2021).
 

Triinu Visnapuu, Associate Professor of Microbiology, participates in Tallinn University's project as a partner. The project is entitled "Antiviral Carbohydrates: Applications in Disinfectants, Cosmetics and Pharmaceutical Formulations (1.10.2020−31.12.2021)" and led by Professor Rando Tuvikene, Tallinn University, School of Natural Sciences and Health.The aim of the project is to specify which poly- and oligosaccahrides (eg fructans, sulfated galactans, fucans, glucans) have a direct anti-viral activity towards SARS-CoV-2. The potential applications and effects of saccaridic compounds within common products such as hand desinfectants, personal care products (e.g. hand creams) and farmaceutical mixtures will be investigated.

Additional information:

Angela Ivask, Professor of Genetics, University of Tartu, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, +372 5398 2998, angela.ivask@ut.ee
Triinu Visnapuu, Associate Professor of Microbiology, University of Tartu, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, +372 737 5013, triinu.visnapuu@ut.ee