North-western University Scientists have designed a novel face mask with an anti-viral layer to deactivate the novel coronavirus that can make the wearer less infectious. The idea is to modify mask fabrics with anti-viral chemicals that can sanitize exhaled, escaped respiratory droplets.

The research, which was published on Thursday in the Journal Matter, found that a lint-free wipe with just 19 percent fiber density, for example, sanitized up to 82 percent of escaped respiratory droplets by volume. By simulating inhalation, exhalation, coughs, and sneezes in the laboratory, the researchers found that non-woven fabrics used in most masks work well to demonstrate the concept. Such fabrics do not make breathing more complex, and the on-mask chemicals did not detach during simulated inhalation experiments, it said.

Although masks can block or reroute exhaled respiratory droplets, many droplets and their embedded viruses still escape, the researchers said. From there, virus-laden droplets can infect another person directly or land on surfaces to indirectly infect others, they said. The team aimed to chemically alter the escape droplets to make the viruses inactivate more quickly.

The researchers found that even loose fabrics with low-fiber packing densities of about 11 percent, such as medical gauze, still altered 28 percent of exhaled respiratory droplets by volume. For tighter fabrics, such as lint-free wipes -- the type of fabrics typically used in the lab for cleaning – 82 percent of respiratory droplets were modified, they said.

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