Nanofibrous Facemasks with Curcumin for Improved Bacterial/Particulate Filtration and Biocidal Activity

Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic situation has posed a significant threat to human health. This calls for versatile facemask filters with high filtration efficiency and biocidal activity. Herein, we have rationally designed a three-layered nanofilter mask consisting of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) and curcumin as a nanocoating on a polypropylene spunbond membrane. The nanomask thus developed had a particulate filtration efficiency of 96.8 ± 0.1%, with good breathability (64 ± 2 Pa) and a high quality factor (0.052 ± 0.0005 Pa–1) for a coating thickness of ∼20 μm. An aerosol filtration efficiency of >99.99% was achieved for both bacteria and bacteriophages (a virus surrogate). Curcumin loading into the nanocoating induced significant contact-killing efficiency against bacteria and bacteriophages, implying the high biocidal activity presented by the nanomask. Furthermore, this mask could be reused up to 30 times after successive washing and drying, without alterations in its particle-filtration efficiency or fibrous morphology. Thus, by adopting a simple, scalable technique, a nanomask with manifold features was developed that satisfies the essential demands of air filtration in the current pandemic era.

Functional Textile Materials for Blocking COVID-19 Transmission

“… 189 , 240 Currently, bacteriophages are the common alternative to the high-risk viruses used in a biosafety level 3 facility, such as T4, T7, Φ6, p22, and MS2. 192 , 195 , 241 − 244 Besides, other virus alternatives, such as HAdV5, HSV-1, and H1N1, were also reported frequently. 154 , 245 , 246 Moreover, even bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa have served as viral models based on the claim that their binding site residues are highly similar to that of SARS-CoV-2.…”

“…First, many virions are currently used to evaluate antiviral effects, and there is no consensus on their selection to data. The representative coronaviruses used in the literature were SARS-CoV-2, bovine coronavirus, MHV-A59, , HCoV-229E, and HCoV-OC43. , Currently, bacteriophages are the common alternative to the high-risk viruses used in a biosafety level 3 facility, such as T4, T7, Φ6, p22, and MS2. ,,− Besides, other virus alternatives, such as HAdV5, HSV-1, and H1N1, were also reported frequently. ,, Moreover, even bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa have served as viral models based on the claim that their binding site residues are highly similar to that of SARS-CoV-2 . This situation inevitably leads to difficulty in comparing the antiviral activities reported in different reports, which was pointed out by Camero as well that the resistance behaviors of a virus family against chemical and physical reagents are significantly characteristic and quite different than other families.…”

A review of past promises, present realities and a vibrant future for wound dressing from naturally occurring to sustainable materials

“…It was used as a nanocoating on a polypropylene (PP) spun bond membrane, which influenced the contact-killing efficiency against bacteria and bacteriophages. 77 Curcumin was added to biobased PU in DMF and was electrospun to form fibrous scaffolds for wound dressing. The effects of the concentration of the polymer and contact angles were investigated.…”

Air filtration performance of nanofiber membranes with different morphologies produced by green electrospinning

“…34,44 For CA membrane, produced by traditional ES with cylindrical and homogenous fibers, Q F was 0.14 Pa À1 , 22 and for PCL membranes the Q F value was 0.05 Pa À1 in cylindrical and homogenous fibers. 26 The Q F values for MPPS and FE at a particle size of 1.0 μm are listed in Table 3, suggesting that loose, unconnected, and porous structures increase the filtration performance by reducing the pressure drop and probably increasing the interception mechanism in the ribbon-like morphology, because flat sides increase the PM contact area. In honeycomb-like morphology, different morphologies (struts, walls, continuous and short fibers) increase the capacity to block PM travel through the membrane.…”

“…It has been processed mainly as a vehicle for other materials with fiber diameters below 600 nm 9,15,25 ; PCL nanofibers with a cylindrical fiber morphology for air filtration applications are scarce. 26 PCL used to be dissolved in chloroform. Although few studies have dealt with green solvents, in one of them, a PCL/gelatin blend was dissolved in acetic acid, ethyl acetate, and water, but a defect-free morphology was not observed for pristine PCL nanofibers.…”