Engineering laminated paper for SARS-CoV-2 medical gowns

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for diversity in the market and alternative materials for personal protective equipment (PPE). Paper has high coatability for tunable barrier performance, and an agile production process, making it a potential substitute for polyolefin-derived PPE materials. Bleached and newsprint papers were laminated with polyethylene (PE) coatings of different thicknesses, and characterised for their potential use as medical gowns for healthcare workers and COVID-19 patients. Thicker PE lamination improved coating homogeneity and water vapour resistance. 49 GSM bleached paper with 16 GSM PE coating showed high tensile and seam strength, and low water vapour transmission rate (WVTR). Phi-X174 bacteriophage testing revealed that paper laminated with 15 GSM coating hinders virus penetration. This research demonstrates that PE laminated paper is a promising material for low cost viral protective gowns.

Photoelectrochemical oxidation assisted air purifiers; perspective as potential tools to control indoor SARS-CoV-2 Exposure

“…This elution was plate counted and it was found that there were zero detectable viral phage counts. This result points to the finding that destruction of the captured Φ174 bacteriophage droplet particle was completed [ 33 , 34 ]. PhiX174 was used as a surrogate virus for SARS-CoV-2 to observe oxidation.…”

“…PhiX174 was used as a surrogate virus for SARS-CoV-2 to observe oxidation. The Φ174 bacteriophage has a polyhedral morphology with high assay sensitivity, rapid growth, and high titer, and has a limit of detection that approaches a single virus particle [33] , [34] , [35] . Both Corona virions (including SARS-CoV-2) and Φ174 bacteriophage have proteins (capsid and spiked proteins) and genomic materials that have C—C, C—H, and C—N bonds, and the test and swatch analysis demonstrate that the PECO filter degrades these bonds.…”

Mini review on circularity framework for textile waste in healthcare

“…Life cycle analysis (LCA) and social LCA of biodegradable medical gowns [12] Green design Substituting polypropylene face masks with biodegradable polylactic acid face masks [13] Green design Development of stimuli-responsive polyelectrolyte multilayers attached to medical fibers providing cationic and anionic sites to neutral fibers and control bacterial adhesion [14] Green design Sustainable options (lower carbon footprint, design for disassembly, optimised manufacturing process, reduced energy consumption and water use during the production process) for continuous positive airway pressure therapy mask [15] Green design…”

Electrospinning in personal protective equipment for healthcare work

“…According to the world's center for disease controls, aprons should protect arms, chest and other exposed parts of HCWs in patient care. They are used to prevent contact with pathogen-contaminated fluids and increase the sterile field of HCWs [ 21 , 22 ]. They must have some performance characteristics, such as comfort, freedom of movement to the user, flexibility, air permeability, breathability, pathogen protection barrier, liquid repellent, thermal comfort and among others [ 22 ].…”