Copper@ZIF-8 Core-Shell Nanowires for Reusable Antimicrobial Face Masks

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2 spread through aerosols, with face masks being a key mitigation strategy.
• Current disposable masks generate significant waste and resource consumption.
• There is a need for reusable or enhanced mask materials with antimicrobial properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate novel copper@ZIF-8 core-shell nanowires (Cu@ZIF-8 NWs) for imparting antimicrobial activity to medical-grade mask filtration media.
• To assess the filtration efficiency, antibacterial, and antiviral properties of the modified media.
• To evaluate the biocompatibility and potential for scalable, low-cost production.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of thin copper@ZIF-8 core-shell nanowires (Cu@ZIF-8 NWs) using stabilized copper nanowires and ZIF-8 growth.
• Application of Cu@ZIF-8 NWs to polypropylene filtration media via dip coating.
• Assessment of aerosol filtration efficiency, antibacterial activity against *S. mutans* and *E. coli*, and antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2.
• Evaluation of cytotoxicity and inflammatory response in relevant cell lines.

Main Results:

• Addition of Cu@ZIF-8 NWs to filtration media increased aerosol filtration efficiency.
• Cu@ZIF-8 NWs demonstrated enhanced antibacterial activity compared to individual components.
• Significant inhibition (55%) of SARS-CoV-2 replication was observed with Cu@ZIF-8 NWs.
• The material showed good biocompatibility with low cytotoxicity and minimal inflammatory response.

Conclusions:

• Cu@ZIF-8 NWs offer a promising, low-cost, and scalable solution for creating antimicrobial and antiviral face mask filtration media.
• This innovation has the potential to reduce disease transmission, resource consumption, and the environmental impact of mask waste.
• The developed material represents a significant advancement in sustainable personal protective equipment.