Ho Chi Minh,
VIETNAM - Media OutReach - 2 April
2021 - Students and scientists at the Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh
City (VNUHCM) have carried out extensive research and developed products that help
prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Out
of 2,000 projects from 79 countries, one on producing protein from Ecoli
bacteria in laboratories by a student team from the University of Science won
sponsorship from the Agence Universitaire de La Francophonie - a society of
universities offering training in the French language.
Firstly,
they collaborated with a company in the bio-technology industry to carry out
the project under Dr. Nguyen Thuy Vy, head of the genetics department at the
university's biology and bio-technology faculty. The research was prompted by
the fact that asymptomatic COVID patients and those with mild symptoms were
believed to be a hurdle to control the pandemic in the community.
To
detect infection, many countries use antibody tests. The advantages of this
method are that it is fast, easy to deploy on a large scale and has great
accuracy. However, Viet Nam does not have suppliers of SARS‐CoV‐2 viral protein antigens,
making it difficult for companies to seek for manufacturing antibody testing
kits. Dr Nguyen Thuy Vy said: "We use a technology to produce protein from Ecoli bacteria at
low cost. Around the world, most proteins are produced from animal tissue." Vy
and two students, Le Tran Dang Khoi and Vo Ho My Phuc began the research in
early June with sponsorship from AUF and they created products within three
months.
"The
project does not only contribute to COVID-19 prevention but also inspires other
students to take up research. The product is useful for COVID-19 tests with
fast, accurate results and affordable prices."
The
VNUHCM's National Key Laboratory of Digital Control and System Engineering
(DCSELab) collaborated with the Centre of Science and Technology Development
for Youth to make a mobile disinfection chamber. With sensors detecting and automatically
spraying once a person steps in, signal lights, and a 360-degree fog mist
sprayer, the chamber uses anolyte solution and ultraviolet, ozone and heat
disinfection technologies to help disinfect the whole body. The chamber has
been used at several hospitals in the city since the COVID-19 pandemic broke
out.
DCSELab's
scientists also made an automatic chamber for disinfection and obtaining
samples from patients without making contact. The chamber disinfects automatically
before the next person enters for giving samples. Though ultraviolet
disinfection technology is used, the UV rays do not directly touch peoples'
bodies and so are not harmful to health officials or patients. Moreover, the
high-efficiency particulate air filter technology combines with UV to
completely kill viruses and bacteria remaining in the air after being sucked
out of the chamber.
The
other COVID-19 product by DCSELab is a simple ventilator working on the
principle of automatically squeezing and releasing Ambu bag to deliver air into
a patient's lungs. The product is being finalized after many revisions and
consultancy from specialists at Cho Ray Hospital and the University of Medicine
and Pharmacy.
Another
VNUHCM's member university, the University of Technology, has innovated dozens
of useful and convenient products to serve the community in terms of COVID-19
prevention and containment.
Scientists
at the Bach Khoa Research Centre for Manufacturing Engineering at the
University of Technology have also made a mobile disinfection system with air
filters to ensure clean air is discharged in the environment. The technology
has been transferred to companies for commercialisation and mass
production.
A
research team at the University of Technology's material technology faculty has
made masks that could be used by healthcare workers for continuous hours.
Assoc.
Prof. Dr. Huynh Dai Phu, the faculty dean, said when COVID-19 broke out, one
urgent issue was a shortage of medical equipment. Healthcare workers faced a
high risk of infection because of working for many hours in an environment
without negative pressure chamber. It was very important for them to use
preventive clothes, goggles and masks to prevent the risk of contracting the
virus, and his team made these masks with a bacteria and air filter membrane to
avoid infection, Phu said.
The
air supplied through the mask is sufficient for many hours for healthcare
workers. This mask mitigated some of the shortcomings in existing ones during
the pandemic period. In addition, the material used in these masks is
environment-friendly polymer. The medical workers at Trung Vuong Hospital are
using them.
Lecturers
at the University of Technology's mechanical engineering faculty made an
automatic machine for sewing masks from anti-bacterial clothing. Besides, the
university's lecturers and students made goggles that keep out aerosols from
patients using 3D printing technology and sanitizers.
Assoc.
Prof. Dr. Mai Thanh Phong, the university's president, said by focusing on
products for COVID-19 prevention and control, students, lecturers and
researchers at the university hope to contribute their abilities and efforts to
the country's combat against the pandemic.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.