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: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=753722
• 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过滤器、传感器、脚手架、口罩、医疗服等功能应用的纤维非织造结构。其中许多应用涉及我们的日常生活以及卫生部门。我的研究计划的短期目标是开发纤维聚合物非织造布结构，其材料和策略可以赋予它们抗病毒功能，同时仍能满足它们的其他要求，如柔韧性、过滤/渗透能力等。此外，由于此类聚合物产品的潜在污染，将考虑它们的可回收性/降解性方面。至少将研究两种不同的材料(一种可生物降解的：聚己内酯，PCL，以及一种不可降解的：聚丙烯，PP)和组合微米和纳米纤维的结构。具体目标是根据未来五年将研究的抗病毒性能方面的活性物质的类型确定的。塑料材料中的这些抗病毒药物可分类为：(I)金属纳米颗粒，(Ii)阳离子载体，(Iii)金属和铵盐，(Iv)配位络合物，和(V)精油。在方法方面，聚合物与添加剂的复合将使用迷你混合器、密炼机或双螺杆挤出机进行。同时或顺序使用来自溶液和熔体的各种装置和设备(使用加热的注射器和/或微型计算机)进行静电纺丝。电纺活性非织造布将从结构、对各种气体的渗透性和过滤能力等方面进行评估。抗病毒性能将在我们最新的二级实验室进行抗菌和抗病毒测试，使用标准程序进行评估。应该注意的是，根据美国环境保护局(EPA)的病毒效力测试指南，TCID50数据(即与对照样本相比，当培养细胞的试管或孔板上接种病毒液体稀释溶液时，50%的细胞被感染的浓度)至少需要降低3log才能被视为有效的病毒药物。为了堆肥和降解，我们的实验室近年来开发了基于ASTM D5338的实验室规模堆肥装置，并将用于可生物降解的聚合物非织造布。为了可回收，非织造布结构将在微型拖拉机、密炼机或双螺杆挤出机中再次复合，并再次用于电纺，无论是否添加原始材料。随着目前新冠肺炎疾病的爆发，预防和/或减少病毒传播除了培训该领域的高素质人员外，还将产生重大的社会、经济和健康影响，这将使加拿大工业受益。