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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.06.10.658990

Biophysics of the Coronavirus-Membrane Interaction: Role of Nonequilibrium Binding Energy

Udema, I. I.
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Abstract

Scientists seemed not to have explored mechanical kinetic energy, a path function for the determination of nonequilibrium binding energy (NEBE). The study explored mechanical kinetic energy, a path function in particles that requires nonequilibrium binding energy (NEBE) to counteract it. It aimed to show that there was a minimally sufficient NEBE to counteract mechanical kinetic energy, using literature data to evaluate derived equations and computations. As is typical, diffusivities increase with temperature; however, near binding, the binding limitations cause the diffusivities (1.519 [->] 2.784 exp. (- 15) m2/s for D variant; 1.415[->]2.577 exp. (- 15) m2/s for G variant) to be lower than when they are far from binding (4.36 [->]7.99 exp. (- 15) m2/s for D variant; 4.151[->]7.611 exp. (- 15) m2/s for G variant). With breath emission equal to 1.29 exp. (7)/m3, the NEBEs were 656.020 and 663.212 kcal/mol for Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2, respectively; and with 27.9 exp. (7)/m3, the corresponding values were 568.921 and 633 kcal/mol; with a breath emission rate equal to 9.31 exp. (+6)/hr., the NEBEs for the Omicron variant in 1 hr. and in 1 min. were 651.703 and 683.353 kcal/mol, respectively; with 201 exp. (+6)/hr., the corresponding values were 444.157 and 663.212 kcal/mol. The G variant of SARS-CoV-2 showed higher NEBEs (952[->]671 kcal/mol) than D variants (834[->]588 kcal/mol), corresponding to 293.15[->]318.15 K. The decreasing trend in maximum NEBE [Formula] with rising temperature implies that the binding affinity of the virus may be attenuated at higher temperatures. It is, therefore, medically plausible to administer airborne, parenteral, oral, etc., drugs at temperatures above body temperatures that are tolerable and in a controlled fashion. Future studies should be directed to a definite determination of the size and molar mass of variants of SARS-CoV-2.

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Udema, I. I.. 2025-06-12. Biophysics of the Coronavirus-Membrane Interaction: Role of Nonequilibrium Binding Energy. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.10.658990

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