The University of Pennsylvania's School of Dental Medicine says they've developed a chewing gum that could potentially reduce the spread of Covid-19.
Researchers at Penn found that this gum containing "plant-grown proteins" as a "trap" for the virus, and can reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Henry Daniell, who led the study published in the journal Molecular Therapy, told Penn Today, "SARS-CoV-2 replicates in the salivary glands, and we know that when someone who is infected sneezes, coughs or speaks some of that virus can be expelled and reach others. This gum offers an opportunity to neutralize the virus in the saliva, giving us a simple way to possibly cut down on a source of disease transmission."
The authors also wrote in the study, "While masks can prevent transmission to others, they do not protect re-infection of infected individuals. Therefore, chewing gum as a biomaterial offers novel and practical applications during the current pandemic."
Researchers are now working to get permission to begin a clinical trial in patients infected with COVID-19, to test if it is a safe and effective way to reduce transmission.
If it's proven to be effective, it could potentially be given to people who are required to remove their masks for things like dental cleanings, or if they're working with high-risk individuals.
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