Apr 01, 2021 07:00:00

Ultrasound could be used to destroy the new coronavirus

Tomasz Wierzbicki , a professor of applied mechanics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and others have shown the possibility of destroying a virus by keeping it exposed to a specific frequency. It is expected to be applied to the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

Effect of receptors on the investigated and transient harmonic vibrations of Coronavirus --ScienceDirect
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2021.104369

Ultrasound has potential to damage coronaviruses, study finds | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
https://news.mit.edu/2021/ultrasound-coronaviruses-damage-0316

Including the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

corona virus is an envelope with a lipid membrane that single-stranded positive-strand RNA virus is. On the surface of coronavirus, there is a protein called 'peplomer' with a large bulge at the tip, and this spike protein binds to receptors in human cells and helps the virus to enter the body.

From the perspective of solid mechanics, which is his research field, Wierzbicki thought that ultrasonic waves could be used to damage the shells and spike proteins of the new coronavirus, and actually conducted simulations.

In addition, since the specific structure and material properties of the new coronavirus have not been completely clarified yet, a simple model of the new coronavirus was created and used as a substitute for this simulation.

As Wierzbicki continued to sonicate the virus model, it became clear that under certain pressures, continued application of certain frequencies, such as 25MHz and 110MHz, significantly changed the structure of the model. Wierzbicki said the simulation suggested that ultrasound could destroy the virus.

Wierzbicki will work with microbiologists to experiment with the actual coronavirus. Wierzbicki describes this simulation as 'just a simulation based on simple theory and model', but if this technology is established, the treatment of the new coronavirus will be greatly improved and 'portable'. It is hoped that 'sound generators' may be used to protect people from viruses.