Page 15 - Thetha Issue 6

INNOVATION

polluted with TB and other harmful bacteria and viruses,
including COVID-19,” says Dr Mufamadi.
The robot works like a vacuum cleaner that contains “My aim is to
a vacuum space with active antiviral nanomaterials in the
membranes of the filter that immediately kill the virus. create a platform
“The filter will be ready in about six months and once to significantly
we see that the membranes are working, we’ll work with
advance
engineers to design the robot.”
Blood Transfusion Project nanotechnology
The South African National Blood Service faces the
major problem of never having enough blood – or a in South Africa”
particular blood group – when needed. Blood needs to be
stored in a fridge, which is impractical for many parts of
South Africa. “We are working on a drug delivery system where
A blood substitute called Hemopure®, that comes we use nanoliposomes, lipid nanoparticles containing
in powder form and into which sterile water is added to chemotherapy and/or green nanoparticles to develop a
create blood, has already been approved for use in South personalised nanomedicine for TNBC patients.
Africa for the treatment of acute surgical anaemia. “We are also working on disease detection and
“One of our senior researchers is putting together diagnosis to develop a nano-biosensor for fast and
a proposal to try and take this a step further by accurate diagnosis of TNBC. Mintek has already designed
incorporating nanomaterials for added benefits, including this, but we’re taking a different approach.
blood that doesn’t need a blood group, that can be stored “We’re working with green nanoparticles that use
at normal room temperature and that is easy to use in plant extract such as Cannabis sativa and microalgae
ambulances and remote areas.” as a reducing agent, both of which have so many
They aim to have a prototype ready within a year. phytochemicals/biomolecules that fight disease.
“We’re partnering with InnoVenton (Institute for
Breast Cancer Chemical Technology) at Nelson Mandela University
Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death on this, as they specialise in microalgae. We engineer
in South Africa. According to the 2014 National Cancer the green/microalgae nanoparticles to look like a
Registry (NCR), 1 in 27 women in South Africa are at a risk microorganism (e.g. bacteria or a virus) that then seeks out
of developing breast cancer. Triple negative breast cancer where the virus is hiding in the body and targets it, either
(TNBC) is the most aggressive form. ripping it apart or blocking its growth.”

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