Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticles for the Prevention of COVID-19

Cluster de Bioeconomia de Baja California, A.C

Status

Completed

Conditions

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Treatments

Device: Mouthwash and nose rinse with the AgNPs solution

Device: Mouthwashes and nose rinse in a conventional way

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04894409

CONBIOETICA-02-CEI-001-20170

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this research, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were tested in vitro and shown to have an inhibitory effect on SARS-CoV-2 infection in cultured cells. Subsequently, the investigators assessed the effects of mouthwash and nose rinse with ARGOVIT® silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 contagion in health workers consider as high-risk group of acquiring the infection in the General Tijuana Hospital, Mexico, a hospital for the exclusive recruitment of patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Full description

SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospital areas is of a particular concern, since the close interaction between health care personnel and patients diagnosed with COVID-19, which allows virus to be easily spread between them and subsequently to their families and communities. Preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare personnel is essential to reduce the frequency of infections and outbreaks during the pandemic. In a first step, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were tested in vitro to determine an inhibitory effect on SARS-CoV-2 infection in cultured cells. Subsequently, the investigators assess the effects of mouthwash and nose rinse with ARGOVIT® silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 contagion in health workers consider as high-risk group of acquiring the infection in the General Tijuana Hospital, Mexico, a hospital for the exclusive recruitment of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The investigators present a prospective randomized study of 231 participants that was carried out for 9 weeks (during the declaration of a pandemic). The "experimental" group was instructed to do mouthwash and nose rinse with the AgNPs solution; the "control" group was instructed to do mouthwashes and nose rinse in a conventional way.

Enrollment

231 patients

Sex

All

Ages

20 to 73 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Men and women health workers in the General Tijuana Hospital, Mexico who works in high-risk areas with direct contact with patients infected and diagnosed with COVID-19.

Exclusion criteria

persons with history of hypersensitivity to silver (rashes and other contraindications),
a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the three months prior to the start of the study, any respiratory distress,
and refusal to sign the informed consent.