Polymer Porous Fibrous Structures with Antiviral Properties

具有抗病毒特性的聚合物多孔纤维结构

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-03902
• 负责人: Ajji, Abdellah
• 金额: $ 2.84万
• 依托单位: École Polytechnique de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=742780
• 关键词: Polymer; Porous; Fibrous; Structures; Antiviral

The general long term objective of my research program is the development of fibrous nonwoven structures for functional applications such as filters, sensors, scaffolds, masks, medical gowns etc. Many of these applications are involved in our daily life uses as well as in the health sector. The short term objective of my research program is to develop fibrous polymer nonwoven structures with materials and strategies that can impart them with an antiviral functionality, but still achieve their other requirements such as flexibility, filtration/permeation ability, etc. In addition, due to the pollution potential of such polymer based products, their recyclability/degradability aspects will be taken into account. At least two different materials (one biodegradable: polycaprolactone, PCL, and one non degradable: polypropylene, PP) and structures with combined micro and nano sized fibers will be studied. The specific objectives are defined in relation to the type of active materials, in terms of antiviral properties, that will be studied in the next five years. These antiviral agents in plastic materials can be categorized as: (i) metallic nanoparticles, (ii) cationic ion carriers, (iii) metallic and ammonium salts, (iv) coordination complexes, and (v) essential oils. In terms of methodology, compounding of the polymers with the additives will be performed using a mini-compounder, an internal mixer or a twin screw extruder. Electrospinning will be performed using various set-ups and equipments from both solution and the melt (using heated syringes and/or microcompouder), simultaneously or sequentially. Electrospun active nonwoven mats will be evaluated in terms of structure, permeability to various gases and filtration capabilities. The antiviral properties will be evaluated in our most recent class II laboratory for antibacterial and antiviral testing using standard procedures. It should be noted that, based on US environmental protection agency (EPA) virucide effectiveness test guide, at least 3 log reduction in TCID50 data (which means the concentration at which 50% of the cells are infected when a test tube or well plate upon which cells have been cultured is inoculated with a dilute solution of viral fluid, compared to a control sample) is required for an agent to be considered as an effective virucide. For compostability and degradation, our lab has developed in recent years a laboratory scale setup for composting based on ASTM D5338 and will be used for biodegradable polymers nonwovens. For recyclability, the nonwoven structures will be compounded in a microtruder, internal mixer or twin screw extruder again and re-used for electrospinning, with or without addition of virgin materials. With the present outbreak of covid-19 disease, prevention and/or reduction of viral transmission will have a significant societal, economic and health impact in addition to training highly qualified personnel in this area which will benefit Canadian industry.

我的研究计划的总体长期目标是开发用于功能性应用的纤维非织造结构，如过滤器，传感器，支架，口罩，医用长袍等，其中许多应用涉及我们的日常生活用途以及健康领域。我的研究计划的短期目标是开发纤维聚合物非织造结构的材料和策略，可以赋予他们的抗病毒功能，但仍然实现他们的其他要求，如灵活性，过滤/渗透能力等，此外，由于这种聚合物为基础的产品的污染潜力，其可回收性/降解性方面将被考虑在内。将研究至少两种不同的材料（一种可生物降解：聚己内酯（PCL），一种不可降解：聚丙烯（PP））以及具有微米和纳米纤维组合的结构。具体目标是根据活性材料的类型、抗病毒特性来定义的，将在未来五年内进行研究。塑料材料中的这些抗病毒剂可以分类为：（i）金属纳米颗粒，（ii）阳离子载体，（iii）金属盐和铵盐，（iv）配位络合物，和（v）精油。在方法学方面，聚合物与添加剂的配混将使用小型配混机、密炼机或双螺杆挤出机进行。电纺丝将使用来自溶液和熔体两者的各种设置和设备（使用加热的注射器和/或微型计算机）同时或依次进行。静电纺丝活性非织造垫将在结构，对各种气体的渗透性和过滤能力方面进行评估。抗病毒特性将在我们最近的II级实验室中使用标准程序进行抗菌和抗病毒试验。应该注意的是，根据美国环境保护署（EPA）杀病毒剂有效性测试指南，TCID 50数据至少减少3个对数（这意味着当用病毒液体的稀溶液接种已经在其上培养细胞的试管或孔板时50%的细胞被感染的浓度，与对照样品相比）是被认为是有效杀病毒剂的试剂所必需的。对于可堆肥性和降解性，我们的实验室近年来开发了一种基于ASTM D5338的实验室规模的堆肥装置，并将用于可生物降解的聚合物非织造布。为了可回收性，将非织造结构再次在微型挤出机、密炼机或双螺杆挤出机中配混，并在添加或不添加原始材料的情况下重新用于静电纺丝。随着目前COVID-19疾病的爆发，预防和/或减少病毒传播将对社会、经济和健康产生重大影响，此外还将培训该领域的高素质人才，这将使加拿大工业受益。