I-Corps: Electrospun Nanofiber

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发一种滤布，用于过滤口罩中使用的甲醛等致癌化学品。该创新可以适用于其他空气传播的致癌化学品（例如，苯、甲苯和氨）的检测和预防。这项创新将为包括卫生、教育和燃料输送在内的各个行业带来商业和社会效益和应用。该项目的跨学科性质将推动静电纺丝纳米技术、材料表征和实验技术的发展。I-Corps项目的基础是开发用于口罩或空气过滤器的过滤织物，该织物将吸收空气中的甲醛和病原体，防止人类接触。该项目将使用静电纺丝技术生产一种独特的，生物友好的织物，结合甲醛吸收和抗菌剂。这种织物将能够过滤出小于120 nm的空气传播的致病分子。静电纺丝是一种工程工艺，通过这种工艺，比蜘蛛网小1000倍的线可以被加工成非织造织物。纳米纤维已用于涂覆植入物（例如，牙科、膝盖和骨锚），并生产抗菌绷带、骨、皮肤移植物和椎间盘。该项目的成果是一种改进的、具有成本效益的、生物友好的过滤材料和生产技术，这将影响人类健康。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a nanofiber cloth to filter carcinogenic chemicals such as formaldehyde when used in face masks. The innovation can be adapted for other airborne carcinogenic chemicals (e.g., benzene, toluene, and ammonia) detection and prevention. This innovation will have commercial and societal benefits and applications for various industries, including health, education, and fuel delivery. The project's interdisciplinary nature will advance electrospun nanotechnology, material characterization, and experimental techniques.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a filter fabric for a facemask or air filter, which will absorb airborne formaldehyde and pathogens, preventing human exposure. This project will use an electrospun nanofiber mesh technology to produce a unique, biofriendly fabric incorporating formaldehyde absorption and antibacterial agents. This fabric will be capable of filtering out airborne pathogenic molecules less than 120 nm. Electrospinning is an engineering process by which threads 1000 times less than a spider web can be processed into a non-woven fabric. The nanofibers have been used to coat implants (e.g., dental, knee, and bone anchor) and produce antibacterial bandages, bones, skin grafts, and intervertebral discs. The outcome of this project is an improved, cost-effective, and bio-friendly filtration material and production technology that will impact human health.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.