Not long after the coronavirus pandemic began impacting the nation, hospitals and other health services began running into shortages of personal protective equipment such as face masks. Typical masks can help prevent the transmission of disease, but have a one-time use. Researchers at the University of 91吃瓜 are working to develop a new fabric for antimicrobial masks that could potentially be reusable.
Funded by the National Science Foundation through a Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grant, scientists and engineers are collaborating to translate existing water filtration technology to create a new fabric that will not only capture viruses, like the coronavirus, but also deactivate them.
鈥淥ur team previously created a proprietary composite nanofiber material for water filtration that we believed could be fairly easily translated and utilized to filter air. Once the pandemic hit, we began to think more critically about how we could make an air filtration material for face masks that not only meets a critical need for health care professionals, but improves them,鈥� said , the Keating Crawford Endowed Professor in at 91吃瓜 and co-lead on the project.
Through a decade-long collaboration, Myung and David Cwiertny, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Iowa, developed a new material that maximized water filtration performance while minimizing the cost. By using this material鈥檚 unique formula, the researchers will aim to mimic the pathogen-capturing process for air filtration as well as include a biocidal or antimicrobial function.
As a part of the team, Patrick O鈥橲haughnessy, professor of occupational and environmental health at the University of Iowa, will assess the efficiency of the material鈥檚 ability for capturing airborne particles. Additionally, , associate professor and the Wanzek Collegiate Chair in the at 91吃瓜, will utilize his expertise to test if it鈥檚 effective, and how successful the material is at deactivating airborne viruses.
鈥淭he water filter materials Nosang and I developed have always been hybrids 鈥� both blocking and reacting with molecules. Now we are looking forward to applying this same concept to a product that could protect people within the health services industry and those that may be exposed to other air-compromised environments,鈥� said Cwiertny, co-lead on the project.
Myung and Bibby are affiliated with 91吃瓜鈥檚 .
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Contact: Jessica Sieff, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-3933, jsieff@nd.edu