Specialists from the University of Kentucky offered advances on the creation of a face mask capable of “deactivating” the entry of the SARS-Cov-2 virus through the nose and mouth, and thus preventing further spread of Covid-19.
The investigation showed that this accessory, which is used worldwide to prevent the spread of this disease, contains a membrane that includes proteolytic enzymes that prevent the proteins in the tips of the Covid from staying in the body, which results in greater protection compared to the N95-type face mask.
“This new material can filter out the virus like the N95 mask does, but it also includes antiviral enzymes that completely deactivate it. This innovation is another layer of protection against SARS-CoV-2 that can help prevent the spread of the virus,” said the doctor in charge of the study that was published in the journal Nature .
The membrane that prevents COVID from settling in the body was developed by the team at
What is the system that uses this face mask?
The study details that thin-film polymeric water filtration membranes, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), could mitigate this hazard through air filtration and offer greater capture of aerosolized particles than masks. N95, due to the precise control of the structure and size of the membrane pores.
PVDF has been shown to be effective in capturing simulated coronavirus aerosols.
How would the mask be composed?
“PVDF membranes with specific variables (thickness, porosity, pore size) could be developed to optimize air permeability and pressure drop while allowing high capture and filtration efficiency of coronavirus-sized particles.”
“In addition, to avoid direct contact with the individual and allow easy replacement, the membrane material could function as a mask insert between two other layers,” details the scientific text.
