TEAM 2_SCTS E-SCRAPBOOK

Nanotechnology: Magnetic Particles and Cell-Based Therapy for COVID-19

Coronaviruses are enveloped and spherical viruses with a single-stranded RNA genome that belong to the Coronaviridae subfamily (order: Nidovirales, family: Coronaviridae). The recent outbreak of its novel beta-coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, is most likely linked to a seafood market. According to Zhou et al.. The genome sequence of the novel virus responsible for COVID-19 (dubbed SARS-CoV-2) is 96.2 percent similar to the genome of the bat coronavirus RaTG13, and 79.5 percent similar to SARS-CoV. However, when compared to SARS-CoV, human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is much faster, resulting in its spread around the world and prompting the WHO to declare the outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Despite the fact that the number of infected patients Due to viral mutations and the emergence of new viral strains, the continues to rise, there are currently no officially approved effectiveness of conventional treatments for viral infections COVID-19 drugs or vaccinations available. In critically ill deteriorates over time. Researchers have recently become interested patients, current treatments focus primarily on symptom in the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs, which are less relief and respiratory support. Efforts are currently prone to resistance and could be used against a variety of viruses, underway to develop effective, targeted, and safe drugs and including new strains. Nevertheless, due to the extreme rigorous vaccines to combat this virus. Some researchers have been process required to demonstrate efficacy and safety, the development investigating the transmission similarities between the novel of new drugs lags behind the need for them. To overcome these SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV in order to develop drugs targeting limitations and improve antiviral treatments, multidisciplinary highly conserved key proteins, such as those involved in viral research efforts are needed to develop alternative antiviral therapies replication and proliferation. Spike, viral, and envelope proteins that target different stages of the viral replication cycle. Therefore in are examples of these proteins, as are RNA proteases, which reference, nanotechnology is gaining traction and has already been are specific viral targets. investigated for potential applications in the prevention and/or treatment of viral infections. Nanotechnology has the potential to be extremely useful in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of COVID-19. Nanotechnology could aid in the fight against COVID-19 in a variety of ways, including avoiding viral contamination and spraying by the development of highly specific and sensitive nano-based sensors to quickly identify infection or immunological response, the development of new drugs with enhanced activity, decreased toxicity, and sustained release, and the development of a nano-based vaccination to boost humoral and cellular immune responses.

Background NNCeaownrRoonpapaarivdtiirTcuelssetAs:ntMtoiadbgoentdeeitcietsc Since there is an emerging number of cases of COVID-19 worldwide, it is important to have a more efficient way in testing and diagnosing people who are affected by the virus in an inexpensive way especially in developing countries with an increasingly high number of daily cases. Definition It is a new process that makes it easier and more convenient to detect Coronavirus Antibodies without expensive machines, making it more suitable for mobile testing centers and for less economically developed countries. The new test is based on magnetic nanoparticles that are coated with viral antigens. Only a single drop that contains two microliters of serum is already enough to conduct this test. Process 1.The test blood serum or blood is applied to the test surface. 2.After roughly two minutes the nanoparticles are washed and treated with a developer reagent. 3.If the blood sample displays antibodies to coronavirus, a color change occurs. Results Studies have shown that it is 15 times faster than the traditional Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Procedure which has used standards and procedures in detecting and diagnosing antibodies for decades and has the same performance range to ELISE Procedure and Luminex. ELISE Procedure takes 3 hours to complete the test while the use of Magnetic Nanoparticles only takes 12 minutes. A faster test procedure means that hundreds of samples can be tested in just a few hours.

Background StePmosCseilbll-eBTarseeadtTmheenrtafpoyras COVID-19 The instantaneous spread of COVID-19 prompted a rapid response to develop effective treatments and therapies to aid patients in lessening the severe effects of COVID-19. Cell-based therapy, specifically, mesenchymal stem cells, showed efficacy in treating COVID-19 patients with pneumonia. It’s a cell-based therapy undergoing evaluation as a possible treatment for COVID-19. Definition Mesenchymal stem cells have already been under study for their immunomodulatory properties. It's hypothesized that they are able to be utilized in regenerative medicine that could reduce acute lung injury and prevent the cell- mediated inflammatory response created by SARS-CoV-2. Stem cells basically generate healthy cells to replace dead cells. This kind of treatment is injected into the bloodstream of the patient. Evaluation Stem cells contributed in further understanding SARS-CoV-2 cells and the mechanism of disease in humans. It also gave clarity to clinical findings in infected patients. Mesenchymal stem cells have an absent angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor that COVID-19 utilizes for infecting the cells. This makes Mesenchymal stem cells resistant to infection. Dr Kunlin Jin, the one who led the research in collaboration with the researchers at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, US., performed a stem cell therapy test in Beijing, China to COVID-19 patients. They used mesenchymal stem cells to treat the patients in which 7 of them were successfully treated and discharged from the hospital after 14 days. However, 3 patients who were injected by a placebo became severe. Stem cell therapy shows promising results at treating COVID-19 patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or pneumonia as said by Ashok K. Shetty, associate director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Since the study is still under evaluation, it’s not yet recommended for public distribution. However, it’s approved to undergo more clinical trials to test its efficacy.

ercIxoeaonrpwvrpcneteogfapisTirrcrtatnlhneruayuteeuhvcncusaoaonctcloteiieqttnztemshathsiunmruaosfdinapncipt,oruatsanthitimliiqcnananenlalioipooguspanftontraynthfutonaydelynevsihhosicsnlcean,doeoaipaf.dononerrownefetefMvusrtsnradotrlmidhtetlke,depaiihtreveofsdeireihinaueoeocnndoteuape.vasoimrjaegnuatyernliefcregnieoopnrehctwndddtaiaxgtohlteeeohhcierltabhrfcrssllheiaencmioaiauee,ovthagttmlntntesfii-henshsinituyrimbfvonctenesapitehgeregelemattieuo.rnnrelhsrildtmrmgooAtgeaneas1h.eyhalnysaeveodecciTstsetsdniieaghlfnbh,amuyniloyrecnbalebtetcsreieorenhshnicweiemnCvneeeeaetitmttanofnsethpmobiSdtpsvsostaaeeutiuiaue,pontdcecdsesdfrmPredoto-nmorvieitapent1cmoeara9doorglimnsiynmmnCnkegfsea.ustiooehaeonitAghuclnutnfstvhslreehestcc,ihe.toaectmrBehrbewhodTnhaetrayefrhn'haraiessoaanetoCeriipasnethnradnpeOldplegodgwyvtkresioVsd,ssahPgofuaIefTfhyenchmautrlDehfaa.ctaiaoodnflcneeiirrFsesdsttpdpormeeoecbtihipeaafvnt,hrwoeeriwespesgnatirnsoonnysrcetehemtteokekniexiaa.elalsaialssyaglnnrtFtnnsnkoo.ypmgdabhhdeudesTatvbeieseoprdhanretnlaiisRtlgeefeonrrrdcedheahgsmneeep,veosvsepmalmhtala.mrcfritsvhhidlenemcieeTcoipcdiackcnnhasas,cToleiilteveioesnamnedsdsercaadeotysiit.eiogsetarinhntp,unwisuircTgsitaoogansshaehlashetdngiliuteelensrloennendotpesogtabscKm.siahcdfinreoisewtlrmIdeeoelCttsaCunuryvcmitryooOt,efpeOteso'hatesbaVlilmicVeolsdhoavcdsIihIdlitpsoeenndeeDsnD,ymdcsalimot,-vgieipracoeAcil1teiwsvaneooct9panenleeguasyezge,stplstnpelciryhvtsstastthbeaaeeiiimteatabnnterclitscunmaignofhlcaonohedrcsahanjera.inaeuteorneberomIptserrarvll'enpsloetetesatpoetlaroadhsgelieaSgduudtkyireamctsynniaoaicoahserntpuettestermnuehmgwahurdebcoagaeacairheeaaslchesCmteotnileor.arnse.tdgmo,eeiHseeunlsoiseWlshdcfah,deot.vaiBuemtoaweAcelrloatmatlallwleistetoyohrnrsotaheanatitbpeiockssrnacoreceirdiefhadteladrennedeioxrnghvbsiTasfitepaawihaanolite.nenoatniepsiarfcoHstvicttnrepaoasoeroeheacclsneeongidtewentpcdeaa,vahnnirtayooedslnnfeeietmtaauvdinktwaaizbephlroteiopiladrnpyioeulodngfonetst,lakrsrnniivcstitacstloeoeeo,oeghtsahss,,rnvwlhvenoitsefubitbseadcoidoft.hoaeueaitihemlfrtaoWftiinrarovtifrfsneosnadeeyboehosennucefir,wsytlorotsi.tifv,rtnee,gr



Since we received the very bad news that COVID has occurred in our country, I had begun to contemplate the assessments that I made on this subject. I knew right away that praying would help me to surpass all the overthinking habits that I have and experiencing at the moment. Stress has always been the most common problem that everyone has. As a student, I somehow experience difficulties with my subjects that result in stress. I believe that stress not only occurs in academics but also in a lot of issues, several things can trigger stress and we know that we can’t avoid it. Making these kinds of assessments helps to distract me from thinking of my situation. I saw how many people have been helping me cope up with my situation and I realized that I should also be like them for other people when they are in need. Because for me, waking up feels like a new chapter of my life, a new beginning, a new mood, and a new mission. As a child of God, I must help those who are in need. A simple message to others and giving them their needs will make them smile and feel in their hearts that they are loved. Like Jesus, I want to help other people by giving back.

This COVID-19 pandemic that we had negatively affects all of us. It seems like our world just suddenly stopped and our lives were stuck and imprisoned. There are a lot of jobs and businesses that are lost, and our country’s economy has dropped. Despite all those negative effects because of the pandemic, there are still some positive effects that it brought us. I learned how to appreciate things that I tend to ignore before the pandemic. It also helped me learn how to cope alone and to reflect on myself to the things that I never had the time to do pre-pandemic, which helped me discover what I want in life and what I want to change in myself to be better. It also helped me to better appreciate our family now that we are together for a very long time. These reasons helped me realize that there is more to what I thought the good life was before this crisis. I took those pre-pandemic days for granted. But what I have learned about the good life is that the life we have cannot be considered a good life if we do not experience a lot of trials and we do not learn how to find good things and reasons in bad situations because those trials will help us to have a better perspective in life with a lot of learnings and realizations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated and exposed existing socioeconomic inequalities as well as the government's incompetence. The lockdown's strict implementation has left most people without safety nets. So far, Filipinos have survived on daily wages, but those who are homeless are left with no resources. Meanwhile, digital communication is facilitating not only social connectivity, but also the formation of virtual solidarity networks and the development of humanitarian initiatives across the archipelago. At the same time, anti-poor sentiments are on the rise on social media. As we try to navigate our daily lives in the midst of the pandemic, more ethical and political considerations about our human affairs emerge. Today, as we try to cope to make the leap from our young lives without lockdown to the rest of the world's \"new normal,\" my faith is that the spirit of our resilience and togetherness among Filipinos and the global community will endure and triumph over all the forces that seek to bring the entire world down.

The COVID-19 pandemic really took a toll on citizens’ businesses, jobs, and daily lives. It’s hard for all of us to suddenly cope with this new norm but we had no choice but to adapt. The lack of government response was and is also disheartening as we’ve been quarantined for almost 2 years. Within this quarantine I had a lot of time to face my issues and slowly break down myself to rearrange my views in life. I have realized that I'm really more privileged than others in many areas of my life. I become more grateful each day I wake up but there’s also a small fear when this will ever end. I’m slowly rebuilding a new lifestyle that would benefit me in the future. I’ve realized that I’ve been too laid back in pre-pandemic days and I took those days for granted as well. Within quarantine, I was challenged mentally and physically as to how I could handle myself and take action in all the responsibilities I bear. Being on lockdown really changed as to how I view the world. Simple things matter and we must get what we need most of the time. Listening to our wants without moderation would leave us in need of basic necessities most of the time. I feel saddened that we haven’t progressed forward in removing the quarantine altogether. It may benefit some but, from what I observed, more people are having a hard time due to this pandemic. However, I hold onto hope that there will be better days to come.

One would think that staying at home all day would be easy but the moment the pandemic hit, I realized that type of mindset was awfully and incredibly wrong. Personally, it was hard for me to cope and I never felt so horrible in my own home. For almost 2 years, I sat in my room not knowing when this whole thing would be over and if it would even be like the way it used to be before. During the time I had to think, I realized that this is the new normal and I just had to force myself to adapt to seeing the people I missed so much through a screen or going to school without actually doing anything physically. I’ve never been hit by reality so much until I realized that every little thing that I once enjoyed would be taken away from me. It was hard but deep down, I knew I was better off than most people, I was privileged but I just never appreciated it until it was gone. My parents didn’t lose their jobs and we had the means to put food on our table and attend online classes. A lot of people do not have the luxury of doing that, especially since COVID-19 pretty much affected most aspects of life. Social events, travel, livelihood, and even supply and demand. I learned a lot and I believe this experience has made me grow as a person overall. My mindset has changed and matured, it helped me focus on the things that actually matter.

Technology has been a part of us and is especially highlighted in our generation. We are taking some of the things we are unconsciously taking for granted as if it were naturally there to begin with. With the pandemic that is still rampant and relevant, we have been in touch with the use of technology even more. I have realized how difficult it will be if it were not for the greatest minds and the humankind that has been curious and passionate about what they do. The contribution of technology to combat the effects of COVID-19 and the help find the cure is enormous and I am always amazed to see that. In this pressing time, we see how our leaders react on such stressful times but was able to remain collective for its people. I think without science, technology, and the society we would not experience the life of luxury and what we perceived as comfort.

Team 2 Cosare, Digno, Estabillo, Estacion, Fideli, Penano References: Scheepers, S. (2021). Future of healthcare: Technology the saviour of patient care in a post-Covid-19 world. Retrieved 10 July 2021, from https://www.itproportal.com/features/future-of-healthcare-technology-the-saviour-of-patient-care-in-a-post-covid-19-world/ New rapid test uses magnetic nanoparticles to detect coronavirus antibodies. (2021). Retrieved 6 July 2021, from https://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news2/newsid=57247.php Selim, K., Conzentino, M., Gerhardt, E., Santos, A., Wagner, B., & Alford, J. et al. (2021). Magnetic Bead-Based Immunoassay Allows Rapid, Inexpensive, and Quantitative Detection of Human SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies. Retrieved 6 July 2021, from https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssensors.0c02544 Cell-Based Therapy. (2021). COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/cell- based-therapy/ Clark, C. (2020). Could Stem Cells Be Used To Treat COVID-19? Texas A&M Today. Retrieved from https://today.tamu.edu/2020/05/06/could-stem-cells-be-used-to-treat-covid-19/ Khoury, M. (2020). Cell-based therapies for coronavirus disease 2019: proper clinical investigations are essential. PubMed. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32933835/ Rees, V. (2020). Stem cell therapy shows efficacy at treating COVID-19, finds study. European Pharmaceutical Review. Retrieved from https://www.europeanpharmaceuticalreview.com/news/116056/stem-cell-therapy-shows-efficacy-at-treating-covid-19-finds-study/ Trevisan, Riccetti, Sinigaglia, Barzon, M. S. A. L. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Disease Modelling Using Stem Cell Technology and Organoids. PubMed Central (PMC). Retrieved fromhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7956599/