Quick Evaluation of Advanced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) During COVID-19 by Using Nanostructured Sensing Assay

由于人类感染的严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2 （SARS-CoV-2）具有极强的传染性，但病理未知，因此人们，特别是卫生保健工作者使用有效的个人防护装备（PPE）至关重要。加拿大公司Grafoid Inc.正在利用其独特的石墨烯纳米纤维开发经济高效的个人防护用品。Grafoid公司的主要目标是通过纳米纤维与口罩过滤材料的整合，实现石墨烯基纳米纤维的大规模生产，这种纳米纤维在防止SARS-CoV-2颗粒传播方面具有良好的性能。为了提高Gradoid纳米纤维的质量，并快速评估先进且具有成本效益的PPE的性能，西部大学的张晋博士将与Grafoid合作实现以下目标。目标1：修改Grafoid纳米纤维的表面，加入用于面罩的过滤材料，以有效地捕获/阻挡气溶胶（细雾）液滴。目标2：基于我们建立的基于石墨烯的生物传感实验，将开发一个快速检测导致COVID-19的SARS-CoV-2的生物传感器平台，用于快速评估Grafoid纳米纤维医用口罩或PPE对抗COVID-19。目的3：建立基于Grafoid纳米纤维的高级防护用品超透气性、阻断病毒颗粒等病原体能力强、生物相容性好的快速评价方案。

Due to the extremely contagious nature yet unknown pathology of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in humans, it is vital to have effective Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used by people, particularly, healthcare workers. Grafoid Inc., a Canadian company, is developing cost-effective PPE by using its unique graphene-based nanofibers. The major goal of Grafoid Inc is to achieve a massive production of graphene-based nanofibers with good performance in the prevention of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 particles through the integration of nanofibers with filtration materials used for face masks. To improve the quality of Gradoid's nanofibers, and quickly evaluate the performance of the advanced and cost-effective PPE, Dr. Jin Zhang from Western University will collaborate Grafoid to achieve the following goals. Aim-1: Modify the surface of Grafoid's nanofibers incorporating filtration materials used for the face mask to efficiently trap/block aerosol (fine mist) droplets. Aim-2: Based on our established graphene-based biosensing assay, a biosensor platform for quickly detecting SARS-CoV-2, causing COVID-19, will be developed for rapid evaluation of Grafoid's nanofiber-based medical face mask or PPE to fight against COVID-19. Aim-3: Establish a protocol of quick evaluating the advanced PPE made with Grafoid's nanofibers in terms of ultra gas permeability, strong capability for blocking pathogens including viral particles, and good biocompatibility. Two PhD students will be involved in this proposed project. With the successful results of this proposed project, Grafoid will quickly provide the advanced and cost-effective PPE which is vital to offer the solution of the global shortage of PPE during COVID-19, particularly, medical face mask.