Coronavirus: Scientists to work on ‘self-sanitizing’ masks that can kill virus before it escapes infected patient
Researchers at Northwestern University are working on face masks capable of destroying viruses as soon as they land on the masks. Dubbed self-sanitizing masks, these masks might prevent the virus from escaping infected patients.
The announcement comes after the team won a grant of $200,000 from the National Science Foundation to work on this project. Under this grant, the government awards funds to projects with the potential to address the spread of new coronavirus.
“Spread of infectious respiratory diseases, such as COVID-19, typically starts when an infected person releases virus-laden respiratory droplets through coughing or sneezing,” Dr. Jiaxing Huang, who leads the research, said in a statement. “To further slow and even prevent the virus from spreading, we need to greatly reduce the number and activity of the viruses in those just released respiratory droplets," he added.
Recently, an expert panel told The White House that the virus can spread through just breathing or talking. "While the current [coronavirus] specific research is limited, the results of available studies are consistent with aerosolization of virus from normal breathing," according to the letter, written by Dr Harvey Fineberg, chairman of a committee with the National Academy of Sciences.
To deactivate the virus, the team is hoping to load currently-available masks with antiviral compounds. "Our main idea is to make an accessory loaded with well-known antiviral chemicals - such as acids and metal ions like copper. To keep cost at a minimum, we want this to be a drop-in solution that would not disrupt current manufacturing," Huang told Business Insider.
Both sick health care workers and patients can use them, he added. When they sneeze or cough, he explained, the chemicals in the masks can destroy the virus present in respiratory droplets and cut down the risk of disease spread.
But this is not going to be easy. The team will have to design anti-viral compounds that activate only during exhale and not inhale. This is because inhaling these compounds might pose health complications in humans, he explained to Business Insider.
He added that the team will carry out initial tests using simulations and not on humans. If their masks clear the tests, the team will join hands with another team to carry out further studies.
“More researchers — and especially students in the physical sciences and engineering — can proactively study the problems and think of new ways to mitigate the transmission and spread of viruses,” Jiaxing Huang said. “Even those who need to stay home, for now, can continue to brainstorm," he added.
What is more, the US is running low on medical-grade masks. Self-sanitizing masks can cut down the need for N-95 masks, that are typically worn by health care workers.
To reserve N-95 masks for healthcare workers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has asked people to wear cloth face masks before stepping out. “Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance,” the CDC said.