I-Corps: Developing a Face Mask Coated with Metal Oxide Nanostructures to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 and other Airborne Diseases

I-Corps项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发保护性口罩，以减少导致COVID-19和其他空气传播疾病的病毒的传播。提出的技术是基于一种表面涂层，它可以排斥含有病毒颗粒的液滴。经过处理的口罩可以通过限制通过咳嗽或接触传播的液体的转化来减少传播。目标客户包括在医疗环境中提供服务的机构，如医院、医生、临床医生、药房以及口罩产品的主要制造商。I-Corps项目的基础是开发涂有疏水表面的口罩，以减少包括COVID-19病原体病毒在内的病毒的传播。所提出的技术可以排斥含有病毒颗粒的液滴，同时显着减少暴露时间。该技术是基于在织物面罩上涂覆低维金属氧化物纳米结构。目标是用水热技术合成的金属氧化物纳米线覆盖织物面罩的外表面。金属氧化物纳米结构的表面覆盖率、密度、厚度和纵横比将被优化，以疏水排斥病毒颗粒。静态和动态接触角测量工具将用于表征水和织物口罩的表面相互作用。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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 protective face mask to reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 and other airborne diseases. The proposed technology is based on a surface coating that repels droplets containing viral particles. The treated mask may reduce spread by limiting the transformation of fluids that are passed on through cough or contact. Target customers include those that provide services in a medical environment such as hospitals, doctors, clinicians, pharmacies, as well as key manufacturers of face mask products. This I-Corps project is based on the development of face masks coated with a hydrophobic surface to reduce the spread of viruses including the virus that is the causative agent of COVID-19. The proposed technology may repel droplets containing viral particles while significantly reducing exposure time. The proposed technology is based on coating low-dimensional metal oxide nanostructures on fabric face masks. The goal is to coat fabric face masks on the outer surface with metal oxide nanowires synthesized using hydrothermal techniques. Surface coverage, density, thickness, and aspect ratio of metal oxide nanostructures will be optimized to hydrophobically repel the virus particles. Static and dynamic contact angle measurement tools will be employed to characterize the surface interactions of water and fabric face masks.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.