The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the importance of developments in fabrication of advanced protective equipment. This study investigates the potential of using multifunctional electrospun poly­(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibers decorated with ZnO nanorods and Ag nanoparticles (PMMA/ZnO–Ag NFs) in protective mats. Herein, the PMMA/ZnO–Ag NFs with an average diameter of 450 nm were simply prepared on a nonwoven fabric by directly electrospinning from solutions containing PMMA, ZnO nanorods, and Ag nanoparticles. The novel material showed high performance with four functionalities (i) antibacterial agent for killing of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, (ii) antiviral agent for inhibition of corona and influenza viruses, (iii) photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutants, enabling a self-cleaning protective mat, and (iv) reusable surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate for quantitative analysis of trace pollutants on the nanofiber. This multi-functional material has high potential for use in protective clothing applications by providing passive and active protection pathways together with sensing capabilities.

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Scientists, doctors, engineers, and even entire societies have become aware of the seriousness of the COVID-19 infection and are taking action quickly, using all the tools from protection to treatment against coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Especially in this sense, scientific approaches and materials using nanotechnology are frequently preferred. In this review, we focus on how nanoscience and nanotechnology approaches can be used for protective equipment, diagnostic and treatment methods, medicine, and vaccine applications to stop the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and prevent its spread. SARS-CoV-2, which itself can be considered as a core–shell nanoparticle, can interact with various materials around it and remain bound for variable periods of time while maintaining its bioactivity. These applications are especially critical for the controlled use of disinfection systems. One of the most important processes in the fight against coronavirus is the rapid diagnosis of the virus in humans and the initiation of isolation and treatment processes. The development of nanotechnology-based test and diagnostic kits is another important research thrust. Nanotechnological therapeutics based on antiviral drug design and nanoarchitecture vaccines have been vital. Nanotechnology plays critical roles in the production of protective film surfaces for self-cleaning and antiviral masks, gloves, and laboratory clothes. An overview of literature studies highlighting nanotechnology and nanomaterial-based approaches to combat SARS-CoV-2 is presented.

A novel N-pyridin-2-ylmethylsuccinamic acid-functionalized smectite nanomaterial was synthesized by immobilizing of N-pyridin-2-ylmethylsuccinamic acid through chemical bonding onto (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane modified smectite. The structural, thermal, morphological and surface properties of raw, silane-grafted and the N-pyridin-2-ylmethylsuccinamic acidfunctionalized smectites were investigated by various characterization techniques. The thermal analysis data showed the presence of peaks in the temperature range from 200 °C to 600 °C due to the presence of physically adsorbed silanes, intercalated silanes, surface grafted silanes and chemically grafted silane molecules between the smectite layers. The powder x-ray diffraction patterns clearly indicated that the aminopropyl molecules also intercalated into the smectite interlayers as bilayer arrangement whereas N-pyridin-2-ylmethylsuccinamic acid molecules were only attached to 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane molecules on the external surface and edges of clay and they did not intercalate. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms N-pyridin-2ylmethylsuccinamic acid molecules bonding through the amide bond between the amine group of aminopropyltriethoxysilane molecules and a carboxylic acid functional group of N-pyridin-2ylmethylsuccinamic acid molecules. The guest molecules functionalized onto the smectite caused significant alterations in the textural and morphological parameters of the raw smectite.