Advances in electrospun nanofiber-based personal protective equipment for active filtration

The rapid increase in air pollution and airborne pathogen transmission has driven the demand for advanced personal protective equipment (PPE) that combines high filtration efficiency whit environmental sustainability. Conventional facemasks are primarily composed of non-biodegradable synthetic polymers, resulting in microplastics pollution and long-term ecological damage. Electrospinning offers a promising approach for producing nanofiber membranes with ultrafine diameters, high porosity, and tunable surface properties, enabling efficient particle capture and antimicrobial functionalities. Biodegradable polymers present sustainable options, as they can form electrospun membranes with high porosity and interconnected structures that effectively capture airborne particles while reducing environmental impact. These materials can also be enhanced with bioactive agents, including metal nanoparticles (NPs), metal-organic frameworks, and essential oils to provide antibacterial properties. In addition, naturally derived fibers are explored for use in the outer and inner layers of facemasks, offering breathability, comfort, and biodegradability. Together, these materials pave the way toward fully bio-based facemask architectures that combine high filtration efficiency, bioactivity, and sustainability. This review explores the potential of biopolymer-based electrospun nanofiber membranes and natural fibers for use in biodegradable facemasks, with a focus on their filtration efficiency, antimicrobial functionality, and overall suitability as a sustainable solution for future PPE applications.