ISTF #08-1839 was developed in response to the 2008-2009 Internet Science and Technology Fair

Striking SARS

National Critical Technology (NCT): Living Systems
Sub-category: Vaccines

Specific Technology Application: Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the branch of engineering that deals with things smaller than 100 nanometers; in particular, we explored nano-particles and nanovaccines for targeted drug delivery.

Problem and Solution:

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory disease caused by coronavirus, a virus that attacks the epithelial cells of the lungs and intestines and also causes an immune response. There is no vaccination for this condition, and when there are outbreaks in parts of the world, it results in many fatalities.
Our idea is to create a protective barrier for the lungs through the use of nano vaccines, which have already been seen to trigger an immune response from HIV. Nano vaccines contain particles in a solution that are small enough to go into even the most heavily-guarded parts of the body. This can possibly cure this viral disease.

Bergen County Academies, New Jersey