A brand new materials that captures coronavirus particles. Credit: University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool researchers develop a brand new materials that captures coronavirus particles and will remodel the effectivity of face masks.
A analysis crew on the University of Liverpool has developed a brand new materials that captures coronavirus particles and will remodel the effectivity of face masks and different filter gear to cease the unfold of COVID-19 and different viruses.
In a paper printed within the journal Nature Communications, the crew confirmed that the brand new materials utilized in a traditional face masks was roughly 93% extra environment friendly at capturing proteins, together with coronavirus proteins, with little impression on breathability.
The Liverpool scientists behind the brand new materials are Professor Peter Myers, a analysis chief in chromatography, and Dr. Simon Maher, a mass spectrometry skilled.
They had been collaborating on high-performance liquid chromatography processes the place proteins “stick” to the floor of the chromatographic assist supplies.
During the pandemic, Professor Myers realized that reversing this course of would supply a technique to take up proteins, and particularly the protruding S1 spike protein which covers the outer lipid membrane of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Working collectively, the crew from the University of Liverpool’s Department of Chemistry and Electrical Engineering and Electronics, “re-tuned” the floor of the spherical silica particle they used for chromatography to make the floor very “sticky” for the COVID-19 S1 spike protein.
At the identical time, they elevated the porosity of the silica particle to provide it a really massive floor space of 300m2 per gram, which is roughly the identical space as a tennis court docket. Furthermore, they elevated the inner quantity of the silica sphere to supply a big capability to “capture” the virus.
The new materials is on the proof of idea stage and the crew has proven it really works in face masks along with air filters reminiscent of these utilized in airplanes, automobiles, and air con.
The group, which incorporates the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, additionally developed a way to connect the sticky particles onto the floor of a traditional face masks.
Professor Peter Myers stated: “This proof of idea analysis has solely scratched the floor and while COVID-19 is not a world risk to our health, this materials has the potential for use in a variety of functions. Our analysis crew is taking a look at growing extra superior “sticky” surfaces for quite a lot of bioaerosols together with the brand new Covid variant BA.2.86 in addition to influenzas and different lethal viruses reminiscent of Nipah.”
Reference: “Attaching protein-adsorbing silica particles to the surface of cotton substrates for bioaerosol capture including SARS-CoV-2” by Kieran Collings, Cedric Boisdon, Tung-Ting Sham, Kevin Skinley, Hyun-Kyung Oh, Tessa Prince, Adham Ahmed, Shaun H. Pennington, Philip J. Brownridge, Thomas Edwards, Giancarlo A. Biagini, Claire E. Eyers, Amanda Lamb, Peter Myers and Simon Maher, 18 August 2023, Nature Communications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40696-x
