Electrospun Filtering Membrane Designed as Component of Self-Decontaminating Protective Masks

Abstract

The 2019 coronavirus outbreak and worsening air pollution have triggered the search for manufacturing effective protective masks preventing both particulate matter and biohazard absorption through the respiratory tract. Therefore, the design of advanced filtering textiles combining efficient physical barrier properties with antimicrobial properties is more newsworthy than ever. The objective of this work was to produce a filtering electrospun membrane incorporating a biocidal agent that would offer both optimal filtration efficiency and fast deactivation of entrapped viruses and bacteria. After the eco-friendly electrospinning process, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers were stabilized by crosslinking with 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA). To compensate their low mechanical properties, nanofiber membranes with variable grammages were directly electrospun on a meltblown polypropylene (PP) support of 30 g/m2. The results demonstrated that nanofibers supported on PP with a grammage of around only 2 g/m2 presented the best compromise between filtration efficiencies of PM0.3, PM0.5, and PM3.0 and the pressure drop. The filtering electrospun membranes loaded with benzalkonium chloride (ADBAC) as a biocidal agent were successfully tested against E. coli and S. aureus and against human coronavirus strain HCoV-229E. This new biocidal filter based on electrospun nanofibers supported on PP nonwoven fabric could be a promising solution for personal and collective protection in a pandemic context.

Antiviral functionalization of a polypropylene nonwoven textile structure as a self-decontaminating layer for respiratory masks

“…This decrease can be explained by the natural mortality of the bacteria in contact with a hydrophobic rough textile, as we recently observed in another study on the functionalization of non-woven PP with antibacterial polyvinyl alcohol-based nanofibers (Oderich Muniz et al , 2022). 45…”

“…This decrease can be explained by the natural mortality of the bacteria in contact with a hydrophobic rough textile, as we recently observed in another study on the functionalization of non-woven PP with antibacterial polyvinyl alcohol-based nanofibers (Oderich Muniz et al, 2022). 45 After 20 minutes of contact, the antibacterial activity of PP-CD-0.2%, PP-CD-0.5%, and PP-CD-1% increased with ADBAC concentration from −0.6 log 10 to −3.0 log 10 and up to −4.2 log 10 . After 4 hours of contact, the PP-CD-0.2% sample reached a relevant antibacterial activity of −3.4 log 10 .…”

Electrospun Fenoprofen/Polycaprolactone @ Tranexamic Acid/Hydroxyapatite Nanofibers as Orthopedic Hemostasis Dressings

“…Electrospinning is a flexible top-down technique with a broad spectrum of regulatable parameters [98][99][100][101][102]. Based on the concept disclosed here, many new possibilities for developing novel hemostatic nanomaterials and other fantastic applications of electrospun architectures [103][104][105][106][107] can be anticipated.…”

Straightforward Way to Provide Antibacterial Properties to Healthcare Textiles through N-2-Hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium Chloride Chitosan Crosslinking

“…Polylactic acid (PLA) was easily electrospun with quaternary ammonium or chlorogenic acid . Poly­(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), another typical polymer used in electrospinning, was blended with cinnamon oil, licorice root extract, or benzalkonium chloride . Electrospinning enables antibacterial agents to be incorporated into the mass.…”

“… 19 Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), another typical polymer used in electrospinning, was blended with cinnamon oil, 20 licorice root extract, 21 or benzalkonium chloride. 22 Electrospinning enables antibacterial agents to be incorporated into the mass. However, as the antibacterial action needs to be provided at the surface of the fibers, a large amount of the agent is lost.…”