The coronavirus pandemic has led to a spike in the sales of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and surface disinfectant sprays that can be bought in abundance today via online marketplaces. However, two startups under the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT) have come up with a viable replacement for alcohol-based sanitizers in the form of an alcohol-free sterilizer that can disinfect surfaces and provide protection against viruses and bacteria for a period of 10 days.

Known as 'Avran', this product is powered by nanotechnology, the researchers said.