Siberian scientists developed a self-cleaning mask against viruses

Scientists of the Institute of Solid Body Chemistry and Mechanochemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IHTTM CO RAS) have developed a material for medical masks, having high antibacterial and antiviral activity. According to researchers, there is reason to believe that the material will be effective against coronavirus, the publication Science in Siberia reports. The new material for medical masks consists of meltblown and nanoserebra. Meltblown is used in the inner layer of a conventional three-layer medical mask. It is a synthetic nonwoven material from very thin polypropylene microfibers, having a diameter of about one micron, said the head of the Laboratory of Electrochemical Systems of Heterogeneous Systems of ICHTTM CO RAS, Candidate of Chemical Sciences Alexander Medvedev. It is usually impregnated with a water repellent mixture. We treat meltblown with silver ions. Studies of the effectiveness of the obtained antiviral material were carried out at the State Scientific Center for Virology and Biotechnology Vector. The results showed that living microorganisms do not pass through such masks. Trials were conducted on influenza A virus and on two types of staphylococcus and E. coli bacteria. It turned out that silver-treated meltblown immediately kills the virus, and with long contact its effectiveness increases. Our material kills, completely deactivates viruses. The mechanism of this process is not yet fully understood by us, its study is a separate task, requiring time and funds, explained the chief researcher of IHTTM of the Russian Academy of Sciences, academician Nikolai Lyakhov. Conventional masks need to be changed every one and a half to two hours, and the ICTTM mask can operate for ten hours under conditions of continuous exposure to pathogenic medium. She is capable to self-clean. At the same time, by cost, scientists note, such masks will be slightly more expensive than usual. But how effective this material will be against coronavirus, scientists do not know yet. The virus appeared on the Vector recently, and time is needed to operate in sufficient quantities for testing. In addition, another test of the antiviral activity of the new material requires funds that the institute does not currently have. According to infectious doctors, whom I consulted, if influenza A virus is destroyed by our material, it is likely that other viruses causing respiratory tract infections should be exposed to the same effect, Lyakhov said. In addition, inhaled killed viruses can also act as a vaccine, forming immunity in humans. This should be checked first of all, which, unfortunately, is not within the competence of our institute. An additional batch of material is now being made at the institute. Scientists are ready to provide it to interested organizations, including from China. Given the urgency of the coronavirus problem, including for Russia, this cannot remain just an initiative of our institution. If there is a chance to block the spread of a new virus, you should use it without waiting for a comprehensive