☣️ Sarin, VX... This simple patch neutralizes up to 100% of neurotoxic agents and chemical weapons

A team of French scientists has developed an innovative gel capable of rapidly neutralizing neurotoxic agents such as sarin and other chemical weapons. This breakthrough paves the way for effective decontamination patches that are skin-compatible.

Dreadful poisons developed for military purposes, neurotoxic agents like sarin, VX, or tabun act within minutes by paralyzing vital functions. The toxicity of these organophosphorus compounds, found in certain chemical weapons and pesticides, relies on targeted action against an enzyme essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system: acetylcholinesterase.


The only way to counteract their effect is to degrade them quickly, ideally upon skin contact and under conditions compatible with the body, which rules out overly acidic or basic environments. Until now, materials capable of effectively decomposing these substances required extreme conditions poorly suited for medical or field use.

In a recent study, a team of French scientists tackled this challenge by combining two materials: a nanoporous solid of the MOF type (metal-organic frameworks) called UiO-66(Zr), already known for its detoxification properties, and a well-known natural polymer, gelatin. The former acts as a catalyst by attacking the phosphorus core of toxic molecules, while the latter provides flexibility, hydrophilicity, and biocompatibility to the whole. The result: a composite gel that traps and deactivates neurotoxic agents in an environment close to that of the human body, at neutral pH.

Tested on several real agents, including sarin (GB), soman (GD), or VX, as well as a pesticide from the same family, the gel showed remarkable performance. The conversion of toxic compounds into harmless products sometimes reaches 100% in less than 5 minutes: a record at this pH! Moreover, the material retains its structure and effectiveness after multiple cycles of use, making it a promising candidate for repeated applications.

The idea of a decontamination patch to be applied directly to the skin is therefore no longer science fiction. This flexible, easily produced gel could become a first-aid tool in case of chemical exposure to toxic compounds, both in civilian and military contexts. The next step is to translate these results into real-world conditions and evaluate their effectiveness in the field, in contact with human skin or contaminated clothing. A major step forward toward safer, faster, and more accessible countermeasures, to be found in the journal ACS Applied Nano Materials.