ISSN 2456-0235

INDEXED IN 

International Journal of Modern Science and Technology

International Journal of Modern Science and Technology 2023;8(1-6):1-6.                     Full Paper (PDF)

Nanotechnology based Facemasks to reduce community spreading of Covid-19: An overview

​R. Naveenkumar¹,²,³, G. Baskar²,*
¹Department of Biotechnology, St. Joseph's College of Engineering, Chennai - 600119, India.
²Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States.
³Forest Products Laboratory, USDA Forest Service, Madison, WI 53726, United States.
*Corresponding author’s e-mail: basg2004@gmail.com

​​Abstract
The (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is evident in every quarter of the world, airborne pollutants become a peril, deftly spreading viral particles, which enters directly through the nasal and oral cavity into the human system, creating a huge impact on the respiratory system. Every so often through the eyes, which is considered to be a vital cause for increased mortality rate. Effective treatment and a viable vaccine are still under research across various parts of the world, therefore to bring down the virulence on community spreading by airborne pollutants, a self-preventive course of action like using a facemask is suggested as a mandatory deed. Transmission can be reduced by maintaining a social distance, avoiding unnecessary gatherings, but wearing a mask will reduce the risk of getting infected from one person to another. We have tried to evaluate the possible effects of the usage of face masks in combination with proper hygenic practice to reduce the transmission possibility in the current COVID-19 epidemic among a community. This paper discusses the implementation of nanotechnology-based face masks also mainly focuses on the materials and efficiency of the facemasks presently used.

​​Keywords: Nanotechnology; Filter; Airborne; Facemask; Covid-19.

​References

  1. Cheng VCC, Wong SC, Chuang VWM, So SYC, Chen JHK, Sridhar S, To KK W, Chan JFW, Hung IFN, Ho PL, Yuen KY. The role of community-wide wearing of face mask for control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic due to SARS-CoV-2. J. Infect. 2020;81(1):107-114.
  2. Tomar A, Gupta N. Prediction for the spread of COVID-19 in India and effectiveness of preventive measures. Sci. Total Environ. 2020;728:138762.
  3. Rothan HA, Byrareddy SN. The epidemiology and pathogenesis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. J Autoimmunity 2020;109:102433.
  4. Wilder-Smith A, Chiew CJ, Lee VJ. Can we contain the COVID-19 outbreak with the same measures as for SARS?. Lancet Infect. Diseases 2020;20(5):102-107.
  5. Muniyappa R, Gubbi S. COVID-19 pandemic, coronaviruses, and diabetes mellitus. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 2020;318:736–741.
  6. Zu Z. Y, Di J. M, Xu P. P, Chen W, Ni QQ, Lu GM, Zhang LJ. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Perspective from China. Radiology 2020; 296(2):E15-E25.
  7. Zhou X, Snoswell CL, Harding LE., Bambling M, Edirippulige S, Bai X, Smith AC. The Role of Telehealth in Reducing the Mental Health Burden from COVID-19. Telemedicine and e-Health, 2020;26(4):377-379.
  8. Chen X, Ran L, Liu Q, Hu Q, Du X, Tan, X. Hand hygiene, mask-wearing behaviors and its associated factors during the COVID-19 epidemic: A cross-sectional study among primary school students in Wuhan, China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health,2020;17(8): 2893.
  9. Chu DK, Akl EA, Duda S, et al. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2020;395(10242), 1973-1987.
  10. Cheng, K. K., Lam, T. H., Leung, C. C., Wearing face masks in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic: altruism and solidarity. Lancet 2020; 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30918-1
  11. Balachandar V, Mahalaxmi I, Kaavya J, Vivekanandhan G, Ajithkumar S, Arul N, Singaravelu G, Kumar NS, Devi SM. COVID-19: Emerging protective measures. Eur. Rev. Med. Pharmacol. Sci. 2020;24:3422–3425.
  12. Maclntyre CR, Cauchemez S, Dwyer DE, et al. Face mask use and control of respiratory virus transmission in households. Emerg. Infect. Dis. 2009;15:233–241.
  13. Oberg T, Brosseau LM. Surgical mask filter and fit performance. Am. J. Infect. Control 2008;36:276–282.
  14. Rana K, Thappa P. A Step to Overcoming Mask Crisis in India during COVID-19 Pandemic. Inter. J. Health Sci. Res. 2020;10(5):192-196.
  15. Lee SA, Hwang DC, Li HY, Tsai CF, Chen CW, Chen JK. Particle size-selective assessment of protection of european standard FFP respirators and surgical masks against particles-tested with human subjects. J. Healthc. Eng. 2016;2016:8572493.
  16. Smereka J, Ruetzler K, Szarpak L, Filipiak KJ, Jaguszewski M. Role of Mask/Respirator Protection Against SARS-CoV-2. Anesth. Analg. 2020;131:e33–34.
  17. Coffey CC, Lawrence RB, Campbell DL, Zhuang Z, Calvert CA, Jensen PA. Fitting Characteristics of Eighteen N95 Filtering-Facepiece Respirators. J. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 2004;1:262–271.
  18. Li Y, Leung P, Yao L, Song QW, Newton E. Antimicrobial effect of surgical masks coated with nanoparticles. J. Hosp. Infect. 2006;62:58–63.
  19. Khamis Aloufy A, Abdel-Moneim El-Messiry M. Nano-silver embeded nanofibrous face-mask for infection control. World Congress on Advances in Nano, Biomechnics, Robotics and Energy Research, Seoul, Korea, August 25-28, 2013.
  20. Shehu IA, Mukhtar A. Intervention of Novel Nanotechnology in Fight Against Covid-19, Scienceopen Posters, 2020.
  21. Sangeetha K, Pragadheeswari R, Arunkumar KV, Rajakumar R. Nano Membrane fibrous on lyocell non-woven fabric for bacterial filtration efficiency in surgical face mask. J. Nanosci. Nanotech. 2014;2(5):598-599.
  22. Das O, Neisiany RE, Capezza AJ, et al. The need for fully bio-based facemasks to counter coronavirus outbreaks: A perspective. Sci.  Total Environ. 2020;736:139611.
  23. Palmieria V, De Maiod F, De Spiritob M, Papib M. Face masks and nanotechnology: Keep the blue side up, Nano Today 2021;37:101077. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2021.101077
  24. El-Atab N, Mishra RB, Hussain MM. Toward nanotechnology-enabled face masks against SARS-CoV-2 and pandemic respiratory diseases. Nanotechnol. 2022;33:062006. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-528/ac3578