Abstract
Human safety, health management, and disease transmission prevention have become crucial tasks in the present COVID-19 pandemic situation. Masks are widely available and create a safer and disease transmission–free environment. This study presents a facile method of fabricating masks through electrospinning nontoxic polyvinyl butyral (PVB) polymeric matrix with the antibacterial component Thymol, a natural phenol monoterpene. Based on the results of Japanese Industrial Standards and American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists methods, the maximum antibacterial value of the mask against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was 5.6 and 6.4, respectively. Moreover, vertical electrospinning was performed to prepare Thymol/PVB nanofiber masks, and the effects of parameters on the submicron particulate filtration efficiency (PFE), differential pressure, and bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) were determined. Thorough optimization of the small-diameter nanofiber–based antibacterial mask led to denser accumulation and improved PFE and pressure difference; the mask was thus noted to meet the present pandemic requirements. The as-developed nanofibrous masks have the antibacterial activity suggested by the National Standard of the Republic of China (CNS 14774) for general medical masks. Their BFE reaches 99.4%, with a pressure difference of <5 mmH2O/cm2. The mask can safeguard human health and promote a healthy environment.
Highlights
A study demonstrated that hydrogels containing Thymol have favorable mechanical properties and excellent antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, and they can be applied in a dressing for infected wounds with a moderate amount of exudate [36]
147 qualitative methods to evaluate the antibacterial effects of Thymol/polyvinyl butyral (PVB) nanofibrous membranes
The antibacterial activity of the Thymol/PVB nanofibrous membranes on S. aureus is displayed in Table S3 and Figure 2a
Summary
N95 masks have the highest ability to filter out PM with a ≤2.5-μm diameter (PM2.5), but because of their favorable adhesion, they can cause breathing problems and are unsuitable for long-term wear and general protection. ≤10-μm diameter (PM10), and some PM2.5, and protect the human body, surgical and medical masks must be worn correctly and be suitable for long-term wear. A study demonstrated that hydrogels containing Thymol have favorable mechanical properties and excellent antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, and they can be applied in a dressing for infected wounds with a moderate amount of exudate [36]. Thymol was mixed with PVB through electrospinning to prepare antibacterial nanofiber membranes. Antibacterial property and protection efficiency tests were conducted to ensure that the developed medical masks meet performance specifications and have antibacterial effects
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