Electrospun-Based Membranes as a Key Tool to Prevent Respiratory Infections

Guerreiro, Sara F. C.; Ferreira, Carolina A. M.; Valente, Joana F. A.; Patrício, Tatiana; Alves, Nuno; Dias, Juliana R.

doi:10.3390/polym14183787

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…vi) Lastly, they are easy to wash, allowing for greater hygiene and sustainability. [ 44 ] As a result, these masks are both economically viable and well‐liked among the different goods on the market ( Figure ).…”

Section: Nanofibers Functionalization Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

Smart Nanofibers: Synthesis, Properties, and Scopes in Future Advanced Technologies

Chamanehpour,

Thouti,

Rubahn

et al. 2023

Adv Materials Technologies

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Functional nanoengineering of nanofibrous materials is getting more important day by day due to an increased demand for smart nanomaterials in many industrial technologies. A simple synthesis and extraordinary features, e.g., high specific surface area, multi‐dimensional structure, small pores, self‐adjustment, flexibility, elasticity, etc., open a wide application range for smart nanofibers as important components in daily‐life appliances. These nanofibrous materials can potentially revolutionize medical, agriculture, food, energy, water, and wastewater treatment technologies due to their capacity to detect small changes (ppm and ppb levels) and simultaneously react to the involved environmental stimuli. In this work, a detailed overview of smart nanofibers in terms of their functionalities, fabrication strategies, and technological applications relevant to fulfilling society's sustainable development goals (SDGs) is provided. Various techniques for functionalizing the nanofibers are covered, along with their unique characteristics, which strengthen the portfolio of properties and thus new applications. Finally, the important usage of nanofibers in the environmental and human healthcare fields is briefly discussed, along with the potential applications in other future technologies. This work demonstrates the challenges and possibilities for smart nanofibers and their applications while simultaneously addressing a new era of multidisciplinary research toward the creation and new uses of smart nanofibers.

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Section: Nanofibers Functionalization Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

Smart Nanofibers: Synthesis, Properties, and Scopes in Future Advanced Technologies

Chamanehpour,

Thouti,

Rubahn

et al. 2023

Adv Materials Technologies

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“…Regarding its antimicrobial action, ε-PLL can be electrostatically absorbed onto the microbial cell surface, affecting its integrity and permeability. Once inside the cell, it promotes ROS production that will induce oxidative stress responses and damage the DNA, affecting cell viability and leading to its death [33][34][35]. Furthermore, ε-PLL possesses cell selectivity, which has been attributed to the ability to recognize bulk charges present on the membrane surface of microorganisms that comprise anionic phospholipids, and it is, therefore, able to target prokaryotic over eucaryotic organisms [30,36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Silver and Antimicrobial Polymer Nanocomplexes to Enhance Biocidal Effects

Pereira,

Ferreira,

Ramírez-Rodríguez

et al. 2024

IJMS

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Antimicrobial resistance has become a major problem over the years and threatens to remain in the future, at least until a solution is found. Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and antimicrobial polymers (APs) are known for their antimicrobial properties and can be considered an alternative approach to fighting resistant microorganisms. Hence, the main goal of this research is to shed some light on the antimicrobial properties of Ag-NPs and APs (chitosan (CH), poly-L-lysine (PLL), ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PLL), and dopamine (DA)) when used alone and complexed to explore the potential enhancement of the antimicrobial effect of the combination Ag-NPs + Aps. The resultant nanocomplexes were chemically and morphologically characterized by UV-visible spectra, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, the Ag-NPs, APs, and Ag-NPs + APs nanocomplexes were tested against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and the Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, as well as the fungi Candida albicans (C. albicans). Overall, the antimicrobial results showed potentiation of the activity of the nanocomplexes with a focus on C. albicans. For the biofilm eradication ability, Ag-NPs and Ag-NPs + DA were able to significantly remove S. aureus preformed biofilm, and Ag-NPs + CH were able to significantly destroy C. albicans biofilm, with both performing better than Ag-NPs alone. Overall, we have proven the successful conjugation of Ag-NPs and APs, with some of these formulations showing potential to be further investigated for the treatment of microbial infections.

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“…Beyond basic filtration, high performance nanofiber filters have since been further enhanced by integrating other functionalities through design and material development toward a new paradigm of smart protective devices. Face mask studies that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic leveraged this size effect for nanofibers alongside the low basis weight, large surface area to volume ratio, and high porosity for use as multifunctional fabric systems within face masks. − Depending on the fiber material composition or surface modification, face masks can serve advanced functions such as antimicrobial, fluid-resistant, reusable, environmentally sustainable material use and disposal, pathogenic detection, and health data monitoring smart devices. − Hexadimethrine bromide (PB) and poly(methyl vinyl ether- alt -maleic anhydride) (PMA) are cationic and anionic polymers, respectively, that have previously been electrospun with PVA for use as selective capture membranes in liquid filtration and microfluidic analytical systems. − This study extends the application of these polyionic nanofibers to air filtration, where the liquid–solid interface is localized to each aerosol droplet and fiber surface. PB and PMA when mixed with PVA can influence the strength of the positive or negative charges that are generated in the R-TENG assembly, serving as both FE enhancement and potential selective capture diagnostic nanofiber webs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanoweb for Nanobugs: Nanofiber Filter Media for Face Masks

Goodge,

Alwala,

Frey

2024

ACS Appl. Nano Mater.

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Nonwoven face masks are being explored as potential multifunctional, wearable, and smart healthcare devices. The fibers in the nonwoven layers can effectively mechanically and electrostatically capture submicrometer particles depending on their fiber size, porosity, and surface charge. While surface charge enhances the filtration of mechanical capture alone, charge is sensitive to moisture, heat, disinfectant solvents, and storage. TriboElectric NanoGenerators (TENG) are a solution to leverage the biomechanical action of respiration to generate a skin-safe level of charge to maintain the electrostatic capture mechanism throughout the wear cycle. In this study, hexadimethrine bromide (PB) and poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMA) were mixed with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and electrospun into hybrid PVA nanofibers to compare their filtration performance to pure PVA nanofibers. Fiber and pore size were measured from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, fiber chemistry was characterized via Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy, TENG performance was measured via output voltage, static and dynamic breathability were measured via Air Permeability (AP) and in-line differential pressure (dP), respectively, and filtration efficiency (FE) was calculated from penetrated particle count during a simulated breathing experiment. Optimized for fiber and pore size distributions, PVA fibers achieved 92.3% FE of 0.3 μm particles and dP of 53.8 cm water, PVA/PB fibers achieved 92.5% FE and 18.3 cm water, and PVA/PMA fibers achieved 88.0% and 66.1 cm water. Output voltage was found to be dependent on moisture content, with the pure PVA nanofibers generating the highest positive voltage when wet, PVA/PMA nanofibers generating a less positive voltage, and PVA/PB generating a negative voltage. The combination of filtration and TENG performance positions both the pure and hybrid PVA nanofibers for incorporation into a face mask as multifunctional nanofiber layers. The hybrid PVA nanofibers specifically can be further tested as selective capture membranes toward controlled adhesion, on-mask sample collection/preparation, pathogen detection, and health data monitoring.

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Electrospun-Based Membranes as a Key Tool to Prevent Respiratory Infections

Cited by 5 publications

References 95 publications

Smart Nanofibers: Synthesis, Properties, and Scopes in Future Advanced Technologies

Smart Nanofibers: Synthesis, Properties, and Scopes in Future Advanced Technologies

Silver and Antimicrobial Polymer Nanocomplexes to Enhance Biocidal Effects

Nanoweb for Nanobugs: Nanofiber Filter Media for Face Masks

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