State institute commercializes nasal spray-type medical device for disease prevention

[Courtesy of KIST]

SEOUL -- A venture company established by South Korea's state research institute has received government approval to sell a newly-developed nasal spray-type medical device for the prevention of infectious diseases. The so-called spray-type mask is activated by light to eliminate viruses and germs that enter the nasal passage.

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) said that its bio venture company D.R.NANO was approved to sell the nasal spray-type medical device which is used for spraying nanoparticles onto the mucous membrane of the nasal passage.

When the sprayed medicine is shone with a light-emitting diode (LED), it will react with oxygen to destroy viruses and germs including influenza A viruses and staphylococcus aureus, a leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections, with an efficiency of about 95 percent. According to the institute, the spray-type device is also capable of preventing the proliferation of COVID-19 viruses.

D.R.NANO was established in 2015. KIST has transferred core cancer-fighting technologies to the bio venture. "Previously, similar light-activated treatment methods were only available in surgery rooms using high-powered laser equipment. This device can be used anywhere because the medicine can be activated by using low-powered LED light," an unnamed company official said in a statement on May 12.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

State institute commercializes nasal spray-type medical device for disease prevention

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