The
current COVID-19 pandemic situation has posed a significant
threat to human health. This calls for versatile facemask filters
with high filtration efficiency and biocidal activity. Herein, we
have rationally designed a three-layered nanofilter mask consisting
of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) and curcumin as a nanocoating
on a polypropylene spunbond membrane. The nanomask thus developed
had a particulate filtration efficiency of 96.8 ± 0.1%, with
good breathability (64 ± 2 Pa) and a high quality factor (0.052
± 0.0005 Pa–1) for a coating thickness of ∼20
μm. An aerosol filtration efficiency of >99.99% was achieved
for both bacteria and bacteriophages (a virus surrogate). Curcumin
loading into the nanocoating induced significant contact-killing efficiency
against bacteria and bacteriophages, implying the high biocidal activity
presented by the nanomask. Furthermore, this mask could be reused
up to 30 times after successive washing and drying, without alterations
in its particle-filtration efficiency or fibrous morphology. Thus,
by adopting a simple, scalable technique, a nanomask with manifold
features was developed that satisfies the essential demands of air
filtration in the current pandemic era.
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