Applications of nanoparticles with biocidal properties as filtering elements in protective face masks

Abstract

The development of nanoscience and nanotechnology in recent years has promoted a great advance in the study of functional materials that have different physical and chemical properties, enabling their application in innovative products for use in areas such as health, agronomy and others. Among nanomaterials, copper and/or silver nanoparticles stand out, which have potential biocidal properties and can be used in the manufacture of innovative nanostructured fabrics to be used in personal protective equipment, such as a filtering system applied to retain microparticles, bacteria or even viruses. These materials can be manufactured using material with low rate of degradation associated with various microbicidal and low-cost materials, with high potential for application in the health area. In this context, this project aims at the development of filtering nanomaterials using copper and silver nanoparticles deposited on polymeric nanofibers produced by the blow-spinning technique in solution for deposition on a layer of textile fabric of a surgical mask. The second stage of this project consists of thermal, mechanical investigations and mainly of the filtering capacity of the system, and with potential application in surgical masks. (AU)