Technological Institute of the Philippines

Department of Chemical Engineering

Principles of Biochemical Engineering

Proposal Title: Compatibility of Virucidal Gold Nanoparticles as an Additive on Skincare Essentials

against COVID-19
Proponent(s): Clarissa Alfaro, Marvie Rose Banez, Jade Dayag, Jewell Jaculba,
Robert Kier Montealegre, Noella Natividad, Austine Kyle Ocampo

RATIONALE
We are presently experiencing a widespread of a newly discovered strain of coronavirus or otherwise
known as COVID-19, a virus that can be transmitted through mucous membranes of an infected person. As
we face a global pandemic, the Philippine government is urging its people to come up with ways to possibly
reduce or prevent cross-contamination as well as discover an antiviral medication that can help flatten our
case. Through the collaborative efforts of our group, we aim to study the compatibility and effectiveness of
virucidal gold nanoparticles as an additive on skincare essentials that can work as a protective barrier
against the virus.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The country experiences an intense number of COVID-19 cases and, one way of preventing transmission
of viruses is to avoid direct contact. According to the World Health Organization, coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2 that can harm and affect one’s respiratory tract infection. Currently,
the spread of the disease from person to person is the focal source resulting in massive confirmed cases
that is a fearfully alarming and devastating pandemic disease of today. Based on the study, transmission
from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients happens in different situations. Most of the time, spreading
occurs when individual coughs or sneezes wherein, they can spatter droplets as far as six feet away (Han
et al., 2020). As it happens, someone tends to breathe or intake them for the virus to get inside their body
(Edmond, 2020). Some are usually through unconsciously touching their face, surfaces, and other things
that an infected person got to have contact with. Unfortunately, some people who are already contaminated
by the disease don’t show any symptoms, and sadly they can still spread the virus. Several prevention
treatments have already been introduced, aside from sanitizing hands by washing and using alcohol, other
products can help lessen the risk of getting infected with the use of antiviral materials.

Antivirals restrain the growth of viruses yet, newly developed materials can do and benefit more. One of the
current raw materials used to produce lotion is an ordinary cyclodextrin. It is a group of oligosaccharides
formed by cyclic arrangement glucopyranose units conjugated by 𝛽 1,4 glycosidic linkages (Nurunnabi et
al., 2017). Ordinary cyclodextrin can be used as a moisturizer that prevents the skin from being dry while
the modified cyclodextrin has an extra effect that attracts the virus and destroys it upon contact.
Recently, the virucidal gold nanoparticles were developed by enhancing the concept of cyclodextrins
making it an effective antiviral. It tears down infectious particles by dismantling the viruses’ viral
envelope(Jones et al.,2020). Gold nanoparticles are considered as precious raw material for cosmetics due
to its clarifying effects on the skin(Chung et al.,2009). Gold nanoparticles could be contained as raw
material for cosmetics such as soaps and shampoo, sustaining its stability and properties(Pulit-Prociak et
al.,2018).

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study is to explore the possibility of using virucidal gold nanoparticles as an additive
for skincare essentials while simultaneously assessing its compatibility and effectiveness. To specify our
objectives, we intend to:
1. To prove the effectiveness and compatibility of virucidal gold nanoparticles as an additive.
2. To create a product that can act as a safety barrier on skin and lessen the risk of getting infected
by the virus.

METHODOLOGY
Soaps are composed of additives and fatty acids that react with lye or sodium hydroxide. Those
fatty acids are made of the most common fats used in soap making: coconut oil, olive oil, palm
oil and animal fat. Some additives could be preservatives, color and perfume. In this research
proposal, our main additive will be the modified cyclodextrin with sulfonic acid developed into a
non-toxic, broad-spectrum virucidal gold nanoparticle. First, wear a complete protective gear
then prepare a mixture of animal fat and coconut oil in a stainless steel pot. Mix it with sodium
hydroxide and heat the whole mixture at 100 ℃ in a microwave. Temperature control of lye and
oils are very important so use an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature. Next is we
need to remove the excess glycerine so that the soap will not be harmful to our skin. In order to
reach a clear, jelly-like consistency, we need to heat consistently our mixture so that the excess
glycerin will be removed. With the use of weak acid such as citric acid, we can neutralise any
remaining sodium hydroxide and some of the remaining water will be removed. After these
steps, or for finishing, we need to mix our main additive or modified cyclodextrin virucidal gold
nanoparticles with our mixture. Upon finishing, put the whole mixture in the soap molder and let
it cool.

GLYCERIN FINISHING OR
SOAP
SAPONIFICATION ADDING
REMOVAL PURIFICATION
PRESERVATIVES

References
Chung et al (2009) Cosmetic pigment composition containing gold or silver nano-particles. Retrieved from:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090022765A1/en
Edmond (2020) Asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic symptoms: what’s the difference. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/temperature-cough-
breathing-isolation-covid-19/
Han et al. (2020) The transmission and diagnosis of 2019 novel coronavirus infection disease {COVID-19}: A Chinese perspective, doi: 10.31838.07.05.126
Jones et al (2020) Modified cyclodextrins as broad-spectrum antivirals, doi: 10.1126.9318
Nurunnabi et al. (2017)Polysaccharide based nano/micro formulation: an effective and versatile oral drug delivery system, doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-47720-
8.00015-8
Pulit-Prociak et al (2018) Incorporation of metallic nanoparticles into cosmetic preparations and assessment of their physicochemical and utility properties, doi:
10.1002.124