Multistage-Split Ultrafine Fluffy Nanofibrous Membrane for High-Efficiency Antibacterial Air Filtration

Abstract

Antibacterial air filtration membranes are essential for personal protection during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, high-efficiency filtration with low pressure drop and effective antibiosis is difficult to achieve. To solve this problem, an innovative electrospinning system with low binding energy and high conductivity was built to enhance the jet splitting, and a fluffy nanofibrous membrane containing numerous ultrafine nanofibers and large quantities of antibacterial agents was achieved, which was fabricated by electrospinning polyamide 6 (PA6), poly­(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), chitosan (CS), and curcumin (Cur). The filtration efficiency for 0.3 μm NaCl particles was 99.83%, the pressure drop was 54 Pa, and the quality factor (QF) was up to 0.118 Pa–1. CS and Cur synergistically enhanced the antibacterial performance; the bacteriostatic rates against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 99.5 and 98.9%, respectively. This work will largely promote the application of natural antibacterial agents in the development of high-efficiency, low-resistance air filters for personal protection by manufacturing ultrafine nanofibers with enhanced antibiosis.

High-performance multifunctional electrospun fibrous air filter for personal protection: A review

“…The synergistic effect of CS and Cur further promoted the antibacterial properties (antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 99.5 % and 98.9 %, as shown in Fig. 14 (g)) [153] . However, the introduction of natural antibacterial agents into electrospinning air filter is still challenging, and more strategies should be developed to meet the diversified preparation of antibacterial high–performance air filter.…”

“…The challenge of one–step preparation of bimodal nanofibers based on jet instability lies in: realize the stable and efficient preparation under large load of various functional materials, because the splitting of jet or the phase separation of charged droplets is likely to be restrained by the introduction of functional materials (jet splitting or phase separation process will be inhibited due to high solution viscosity) [153] . Above all, it is undeniable that this simple preparation strategy has a powerful magnetizing effect on realizing the batch preparation of high performance electrospun air filter materials and promoting the electrospinning technology from laboratory to industrialization.…”

“…(f) Filtration efficiency of fluffy nanofibrous membranes and commercial masks under 120 min filtering test. (g) Antibacterial rates of different membranes against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus [153] . …”

Modulation of Macrophages Using Nanoformulations with Curcumin to Treat Inflammatory Diseases: A Concise Review

“…Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) was completely eliminated when the released Cur concentration was 250 μg/mL. The combination of nanofibers and Cur has been developed into novel fluffy nanofiber membranes with high-efficiency air filtration and antibacterial properties for personal protection [ 85 ]. Lin et al [ 86 ] introduced Cur into rod-shaped nanogels, which exhibited special anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo by effectively inhibiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines.…”

Advanced functional nanofibers: strategies to improve performance and expand functions

“…Polymer-blended nanofibers belong to multi-component systems in which two or more materials are fused to form new nanofibers [ 78 , 79 ]. Polymer-blended nanofibers are fabricated to achieve multifunctionality and enhance the properties of nanofibers [ 80 ]. For example, by selecting suitable materials, the mechanical properties of nanofibers can be improved.…”