Projects

Slovenian health care was put to the test when the pandemic began in early spring 2020. Although government measures slowed down the spread of the virus, which bought time for reorganizing public health care, the pandemic still claimed too many victims. One of the first measures was the mandatory use of protective masks. Disposable medical masks reliably capture most viruses in exhaled or inhaled air but do not inactivate them. Among the government’s measures was a tender for two-year projects, within the framework of which Slovenian research groups were supposed to investigate alternative options for curbing the spread of the virus. Our research group received funding to investigate the possibility of such a treatment of non-woven textiles in respiratory masks, which would enable rapid inactivation of viruses in addition to capture. The project was successful, as we produced several mask prototypes and proved their virucidity. Based on the results of prototype testing, we submitted a patent application. The project was thus accomplished, but it did not enable the general use of innovative masks, as additional research is needed for such a thing. As part of the current project application, we intend to investigate the processing parameters in detail to optimize the process. We know that innovative processing is useful for making masks only when we prove that the process is repeatable, reliable, and possible to upgrade to the level of industrial applicability. In addition, the procedure must be affordable. Research on the inactivation of viruses on selected materials is time-consuming, so in the framework of the project, we intend to investigate the influence of process parameters on the reliability of the capture and inactivation of Phi6, a surrogate for coronaviruses, and for selected samples inactivation of murine hepatitis virus (MHV, belongs to the same genus as SARS-CoV-2), on textiles, which are typically used as filter material in disposable respiratory masks ((melt-blown) polypropylene, polyethylene
terephthalate, cotton, and lyocell fibers). We will determine the rate of Phi6 inactivation as a function of process parameters and determine the range of parameters suitable for using our process in respiratory masks. We will also investigate textile processing in continuous mode, i.e., continuous treatment. We will monitor breathability and virus filtration efficiency (VFE) throughout the project. Toward the end of the project, we will prepare batches of masks and send them to certified foreign laboratories (one of which is also a partner) for testing to compare testing results from third parties. If the results are consistent with the hypothesis, the process will be ready for industrial research to demonstrate its applicability in producing respiratory masks. The process will also be interesting for treating textile products used in medical practice, such as gowns, (protective) clothes, bedding, drapes, etc. Four complementary research groups with expertise in the following scientific fields will participate in the project: materials processing using advanced techniques for tailoring surface properties of porous materials, textiles, virology (microbiology), toxicology, and a certified laboratory.

SICRIS