The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching implications on everything from public health to education, radically altering almost every aspect of our day-to-day lives. For many, facemasks have become an essential item -- similar to a wallet or a phone. They have become an integral part of an outfit, and while many of us continue to use disposable medical masks, others have migrated to reusable-- and more fashionable-- fabric-based alternatives. Unfortunately, neither option is without drawbacks. While the medical masks are more effective filters than their fabric-based alternatives, they are not reusable or recyclable and are filling landfills at a record pace. Although multiple vaccines have been developed for COVID-19, we will have to continue wearing our masks for the foreseeable future. For this reason, we are developing new methods using electrospun nanofibrous webs to improve upon the drawbacks of existing masks. The focus of our research is on the development of a filter layer that can be incorporated into reusable fabric-based face masks. This is being done through the electrospinning of nanofibers having nanopores that are effective to trap viruses. The nanofibers used are formed from a biodegradable polymer, addressing the current environmental drawbacks of disposable medical masks. Over the course of our study, the structural analysis of nanofibrous webs is conducted using different and proper characterization techniques.

Biodegradable electrospun nanofiber layers for the functionalization of facemask

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.