Research Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a global need for antiviral materials that actively reduce viral transmission, especially at mucosal surfaces—the main entry points for respiratory viruses. Current PPE offers passive protection using synthetic, chemically treated coatings that degrade with use, are non-renewable, and fail to neutralize viruses upon contact—posing risks of secondary exposure. This project proposes a sustainable antiviral hydrogel composed of lignin—a biodegradable, renewable byproduct of the paper industry—and porphyrin-based, FDA-approved photosensitizers used in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Lignin’s phenolic structure and natural biocompatibility make it an ideal biomedical candidate. By using lignin, a waste material, the platform helps reduce carbon footprint associated with synthetic polymer production. Sulfation of lignin allows it to mimic heparan sulfate, a mucosal glycan involved in viral attachment, enabling the hydrogel to trap and neutralize viruses at their entry sites. Porphyrins embedded in the hydrogel generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon light exposure, offering active viral inactivation. Encapsulation in lignin improves porphyrin solubility, stability, and bioavailability, overcoming key limitations of standalone PDT agents. This dual-function hydrogel delivers both passive viral entrapment and active photodynamic virucidal activity. It mimics natural mucus, providing moisture retention, biocompatibility, and a green chemistry approach to antiviral design. The hydrogel will be evaluated through in vitro assays using Vero E6 cells and HSV-1-GFP as a BSL-3 surrogate for SARS-CoV-2. Its cytocompatibility, antiviral efficacy, and ROS activity will be quantified. This project addresses key gaps: 1. Lack of active virucidal coatings, 2. Environmental and health hazards from synthetic PPE, 3. Low bioavailability of porphyrins, and 4. High carbon footprint of conventional polymeric materials. No existing platform combines biomass-derived lignin with photosensitizers in a mucus-mimicking antiviral hydrogel. This green, scalable solution used in reusable mask coatings, offering real-time self-sterilization. The work supports Atmanirbhar Bharat and global climate goals by converting industrial waste into value-added biomedical materials, contributing to sustainable healthcare innovation.