Versarien (AIM: VRS ) has released results of a preliminary study of modified graphene materials, which were shown to possess properties inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The advanced materials engineering group provided an independent report of the materials for use against SARS-CoV-2, the strain of coronavirus that causes the virus COVID-19.
The report has now concluded that the preliminary test results show that these materials significantly inhibit viral infection and possess antiviral activity towards SARS-CoV-2.
The study was to test if the graphene nanoplatelets doped with metal oxide nanoparticles produced by Versarien could inactivate SARS-CoV-2.
Two graphene nanoplatelet batches were doped with different metal oxide nanoparticles, “GNA-22" and "GNA-24”.
These doped materials were produced using technology from Gnanomat, the Company's subsidiary, and were then separately dispersed in a phosphate buffer solution by a team at Ankara University and provided to an external Biosafety Level 3 laboratory for testing.
VeroE6 cells with SARS-CoV-2 were tested and viral copy numbers were analysed in real time to demonstrate the level of SARS-CoV-2 inhibition of the aqueous suspensions of GNA-22 and GNA-24, compared to control samples that were not exposed to these modified materials.
Initial results showed a “log 4” reduction of SARS-CoV-2 using GNA 22 (approximately 99.99% inhibition) and a log 2 reduction using GNA 24 (approximately 99% inhibition).
The company said these results were ‘statistically highly significant with a p-value of less than 0.0001.’
The report concludes that the results show GNA22 and GNA24 to significantly inhibit viral infection and suggests that these materials possess antiviral activity towards SARS-CoV-2.
“While we must stress that these results have been achieved under laboratory conditions, they do demonstrate that our hybrid graphene nanomaterials have the potential to provide protection from COVID-19,” said Neill Ricketts, Chief Executive Officer of Versarien.
He added, “The results provide us with sufficient levels of confidence for our combined Gnanomat and 2-DTech teams to move to rapid testing of these materials in real-world applications as diverse as face masks, clothing and surface treatments, together with investigating the protection that they can provide from other viruses and bacteria.”
Shares in Versarien have ticked up by 5% in the past two weeks to open 16.68% higher this morning to 39.67p following the announcement.
3 Reasons to Follow Versarien
Versarien is an advanced engineering materials group that leverages proprietary technology through innovative engineering solutions. The company holds eight subsidiaries which operate under two divisions, Graphene and Plastics and Hard Wear and Metallic Products.
Leading the Commercialisation of the ‘Wonder Material’
In 2019/20 Versarien entered into collaborations with global partners. The group completed a process required to achieve the award of a £5 million Innovate UK loan. It said its focus ‘is now very much on the monetisation of the graphene technologies’ in its portfolio.
The loan is for a project named G SCALE, (Graphene-Seat, Concrete, Arch, Leisure, Elastomer), covering a number of Versarien's existing collaborations, which is designed to enable Versarien to ‘significantly increase’ its manufacture of quality assured graphene.
Wide Product Portfolio
In August 2020, the company launched its first graphene enhanced protective face mask, which utilises Polygrene, Versarien’s graphene enhanced polymer.
The mask is a filtering facepiece designed to protect against airborne bacteria and the spread of viral infection.
Versarien has also formed the Versarien Graphene Advisory Panel (VGap) to commercialise ‘the many opportunities’ of graphene.
This will focus on the dual agenda of scoping Versarien's current and future technologies, along with wider graphene related topics.
Expansion into China
Meanwhile, the company plans to use Beijing Versarien Technology Company Limited, its wholly owned Chinese foreign entity, to form the base for its expansion activities in China. Additionally, it is also looking at how products that utilise its graphene can be imported.
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