Electrospun transparent nanofibers as a next generation face filtration media: A review

Zongqi Zhang; Shuyue Jia; Wenting Wu; Guomin Xiao; Subramanian Sundarrajan; Seeram Ramakrishna

doi:10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213390

Electrospun transparent nanofibers as a next generation face filtration media: A review

Biomater Adv. 2023 Jun:149:213390. doi: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213390. Epub 2023 Mar 18.

Authors

Zongqi Zhang¹, Shuyue Jia², Wenting Wu³, Guomin Xiao⁴, Subramanian Sundarrajan⁵, Seeram Ramakrishna⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117574, Singapore.
² Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117574, Singapore; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.
³ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
⁴ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China. Electronic address: xiaogm@seu.edu.cn.
⁵ Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117574, Singapore; Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical & Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: sundar@nus.edu.sg.
⁶ Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117574, Singapore. Electronic address: seeram@nus.edu.sg.

PMID: 36963249
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213390

Abstract

The development of fascinating materials with functional properties has revolutionized the humankind with materials comfort, stopped the spreading of diseases, relieving the environmental pollution pressure, economized government research funds, and prolonged their serving life. The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has triggered great global public health concern. Face masks are crucial tools to impede the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 from human to human. However, current face masks exhibit in a variety of colors (opaque), like blue, black, red, etc., leading to a communication barrier between the doctor and the deaf-mute patient when wearing a mask. High optical transparency filters can be utilized for both personal protection and lip-reading. Thus, shaping face air filter into a transparent appearance is an urgent need. Electrospinning technology, as a mature technology, is commonly used to form nanofiber materials utilizing high electrical voltage. With the alteration of the diameters of nanofibers, and proper material selection, it would be possible to make the transparent face mask. In this article, the research progress in the transparent face air filter is reviewed with emphasis on three parts: mechanism of the electrospinning process and light transmission, preparation of transparent face air filter, and their innovative potential. Through the assessment of classic cases, the benefits and drawbacks of various preparation strategies and products are evaluated, to provide general knowledge for the needs of different application scenarios. In the end, the development directions of transparent face masks in protective gear, particularly their novel functional applications and potential contributions in the prevention and control of the epidemic are also proposed.

Keywords: Electrospinning; Face mask; Nanofiber; Nanofibrous membrane; Transparent.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Air Filters*
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Filtration
Humans
Nanofibers*
SARS-CoV-2