Researchers from India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have developed an antimicrobial coating that shows promise for killing the coronavirus.

During testing of the antimicrobial coating against the influenza virus, which, like the coronavirus is an enveloped virus, the coating killed the flu virus entirely within 30 minutes of contact. Likewise, the coating also destroyed all traces of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and fluconazole resistant C. albicans spp within 30 to 45 minutes of contact.

Based on its performance against the flu virus, the coating will undergo testing against the coronavirus. If it proves effective, the team intends to apply the coating — which can easily be incorporated onto assorted materials such as textiles, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic and polyurethane — to personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks, gowns, gloves and face shields worn by healthcare professionals.