Penn Dental researcher designs gum to trap COVID-19

Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine began a clinical trial Sept. 7 to test the ability of a chewing gum to trap COVID-19 in saliva.  

The gum was designed by Dr. Henry Daniell, a researcher at the Penn School of Dental Medicine, and was created using plant-based materials that lock up a protein found in COVID-19, according to a Sept. 8 news release. 

The trial will recruit 40 Penn Dental employees who recently had COVID-19 symptoms. 

If found to be effective, the gum could make it safer for dentists to provide dental and oral care to patients who test positive, according to the release. 

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