COVID 19-Scalable Production of Mechanically Resilient Biocidal Face Masks from Ultrafine Nonwoven Fibers

这项提议是关于令人兴奋的可能性，使N95中的过滤材料-呼吸器和外科面罩-具有机械弹性，并能够变性传染性病原体，如细菌、病毒和真菌。 这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。首先，口罩中发现的过滤材料通常是通过熔融吹塑工艺制成的。熔喷过滤器很脆弱，在变形(如拉伸)时容易损坏。如果我们能使这些过滤器在机械上坚固耐用，它们的寿命将会增加，因为它们不太可能被损坏。 其次，被捕获的病原体，如病毒、细菌和真菌，可以生活在这些过滤器的表面，以它们也捕获的有机营养为食。因此，这些过滤器常常成为病原体的“滋生地”。如果这些过滤器处理不当，它们可能是空气传播的次要来源。通过使这些过滤器显示出杀生活性，这些过滤器不仅可以捕获感染性病原体，还可以将它们完全灭活，从而消除二次传播的风险。 最后，人们对商用口罩中的高质量过滤材料的生产方法知之甚少。这是因为，工业规模生产这些过滤器所需的设计和工程原则被作为商业秘密保留在少数主导生产的公司手中。通过填补这一知识缺口，加拿大公司也将能够生产这些过滤器，减少我们对进口的依赖，以满足当地需求。这将改善加拿大的准备，以应对口罩需求的突然激增，以防再次爆发。此外，机械性能和杀生活性的提高将创造出比目前商业替代产品更具竞争力的优势。

This proposal is about the exciting possibility of making the filtration materials found in N95-respirators and surgical face masks mechanically resilient and able to denature infectious pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This research is important because of several reasons. First, the filtration materials found in masks are typically made via the process of melt blowing. Melt-blown filters are delicate and tend to get damaged when deformed (e.g. stretched). If we can make these filters mechanically robust, their lifespan will increase as they will be less likely to get damaged. Second, captured pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi, can live on the surface of these filters, feeding off of the organic nutrients also captured by them. As a result, these filters often become 'breeding grounds' for pathogens. If these filters are not disposed of properly, they can be a secondary source of airborne transmission. By making these filters exhibit biocidal activity, these filters will not only capture infectious pathogens but also deactivate them completely, eliminating this risk of secondary transmission. Finally, the method of producing high-quality filtration materials found in commercial face masks is poorly understood. This is because the design and engineering principles required to produce these filters at an industrial-scale are kept as trade-secrets within a handful of companies who dominate production. By filling this knowledge gap, Canadian companies will also be able to produce these filters, decreasing our reliance on imports to meet local demand. This will improve the preparedness of Canada to meet a sudden surge in demand for face masks in case of another outbreak. Furthermore, improvement in mechanical performance and biocidal activity will create competitive advantages over current commercial alternatives.