Development of Technology for Providing Antimicrobial Properties to Medical Disposable Masks

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering
• Microbiology

Background:

• Medical disposable masks are crucial for preventing communicable disease spread, particularly during pandemics like COVID-19.
• Key properties for mask efficacy include antibacterial activity, efficiency, microbial purity, and breathability.
• Silver (Ag) is a common antimicrobial agent used in textiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of antimicrobial polymer coatings on the breathability and antibacterial activity of non-woven polypropylene (PP) materials for medical masks.
• To develop and test a multi-layered medical mask model incorporating antimicrobial additives.

Main Methods:

• Prepared four binder compositions with three antimicrobial additives and applied them to a one-layer non-woven PP material.
• Evaluated the breathability and antibacterial activity of the coated materials.
• Constructed two- and three-layer medical mask models based on promising single-layer results.
• Tested the antibacterial efficiency against E. Coli, K. Pneumoniae, and S. Aureus, and assessed microbial purity.

Main Results:

• Polyacrylic acid binder composition minimally affected material breathability.
• Silver chloride formulation exhibited the strongest antimicrobial response.
• A three-layered mask model with silver chloride in the middle layer showed significant antibacterial efficiency against three tested pathogens.
• The developed mask model met Type I requirements per EN 14863, with microbial purity < 3 CFU/g.

Conclusions:

• Antimicrobial polymer coatings can enhance medical mask functionality without compromising breathability.
• Silver chloride is a highly effective antimicrobial agent for medical mask applications.
• The developed three-layered mask model offers robust protection against specific bacterial pathogens and meets international standards for medical masks.