Scientists Invent Special, Long-Lasting N95 Masks That Kill Viruses

Here’s a win-win situation: Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed N95 face masks that not only kill germs upon contact but can also be worn for longer periods of time to reduce waste. 

To create the improved iteration of the mask, the team grafted broad-spectrum antimicrobial polymers onto the typical polypropylene filters used in N95 face shields, to protect the active filtration layers in the masks from losing efficacy over time. 

The challenge, however, was to increase the longevity and performance of the masks while maintaining the “very fine network of fibers,” so as to ensure they’re still relatively comfortable to breathe through. 

According to the team, the antimicrobial polymers were successfully attached using ultraviolet-initiated grafting, which creates a non-leaching polymer coating that “can kill viruses and bacteria by essentially breaking open their outer layer.” 

Fortunately, the process is rather simple, only requiring UV light and acetone—materials which are widely available—to implement, making it a breeze to scale. Plus, the researchers found that the method can be applied to filters that have already been filtered, negating the need to manufacture new ones. 

While it was noted that the filtration efficiency did decrease when the process was applied directly to the filtration layer of the mask, the scientists suggested for users to wear an unaltered version of the N95 face shield along with an additional antimicrobial layer, with plans to combine the two in the future. 

As single-use masks pile up in landfills across the globe, perhaps this virus-killing iteration could be the solution we need to reuse masks in a way that’s still sanitary and effective against COVID-19. 

“Hopefully, we are on the other side of the COVID pandemic. But this kind of technology will be increasingly important. The threat of diseases caused by airborne microbes is not going away,” explained Helen Zha, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering. 

“It’s about time that we improved the performance and sustainability of the materials we use to protect ourselves,” she concluded. 

[via Labiotech.eu and SciTechDaily / Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, cover image via Hammekko | Dreamstime.com]