Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes for Controlling Airborne Viruses: Present Status, Standardization of Aerosol Filtration Tests, and Future Development

Overview

Journal ACS Environ Au

Publisher American Chemical Society

Date 2022 Aug 5

PMID 35928556

Authors

Hongchen Shen

Minghao Han

Yun Shen

Danmeng Shuai

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic has raised great public concern about the airborne transmission of viral pathogens. Virus-laden aerosols with small size could be suspended in the air for a long duration and remain infectious. Among a series of measures implemented to mitigate the airborne spread of infectious diseases, filtration by face masks, respirators, and air filters is a potent nonpharmacologic intervention. Compared with conventional air filtration media, nanofibrous membranes fabricated via electrospinning are promising candidates for controlling airborne viruses due to their desired characteristics, i.e., a reduced pore size (submicrometers to several micrometers), a larger specific surface area and porosity, and retained surface and volume charges. So far, a wide variety of electrospun nanofibrous membranes have been developed for aerosol filtration, and they have shown excellent filtration performance. However, current studies using electrospinning for controlling airborne viruses vary significantly in the practice of aerosol filtration tests, including setup configurations and operations. The discrepancy among various studies makes it difficult, if not impossible, to compare filtration performance. Therefore, there is a pressing need to establish a standardized protocol for evaluating the electrospun nanofibrous membranes' performance for removing viral aerosols. In this perspective, we first reviewed the properties and performance of diverse filter media, including electrospun nanofibrous membranes, for removing viral aerosols. Next, aerosol filtration protocols for electrospun nanofibrous membranes were discussed with respect to the aerosol generation, filtration, collection, and detection. Thereafter, standardizing the aerosol filtration test system for electrospun nanofibrous membranes was proposed. In the end, the future advancement of electrospun nanofibrous membranes for enhanced air filtration was discussed. This perspective provides a comprehensive understanding of status and challenges of electrospinning for air filtration, and it sheds light on future nanomaterial and protocol development for controlling airborne viruses, preventing the spread of infectious diseases, and beyond.

Citing Articles

On-Site Bioaerosol Sampling and Airborne Microorganism Detection Technologies.

Rastmanesh A, Boruah J, Lee M, Park S Biosensors (Basel). 2024; 14(3).

PMID: 38534229 PMC: 10968652. DOI: 10.3390/bios14030122.

Upscaling of Electrospinning Technology and the Application of Functionalized PVDF-HFP@TiO Electrospun Nanofibers for the Rapid Photocatalytic Deactivation of Bacteria on Advanced Face Masks.

Cimini A, Borgioni A, Passarini E, Mancini C, Proietti A, Buccini L Polymers (Basel). 2024; 15(23).

PMID: 38231986 PMC: 10708761. DOI: 10.3390/polym15234586.

Electrospun nanofibers for medical face mask with protection capabilities against viruses: State of the art and perspective for industrial scale-up.

Cimini A, Imperi E, Picano A, Rossi M Appl Mater Today. 2023; 32:101833.

PMID: 37152683 PMC: 10151159. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmt.2023.101833.

Bioinspired artificial spider silk photocatalyst for the high-efficiency capture and inactivation of bacteria aerosols.

Peng L, Wang H, Li G, Liang Z, Zhang W, Zhao W Nat Commun. 2023; 14(1):2412.

PMID: 37106011 PMC: 10134728. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38194-1.

Electrospun Polycaprolactone/ZnO Nanocomposite Membranes with High Antipathogen Activity.

Permyakova E, Manakhov A, Kiryukhantsev-Korneev P, Leybo D, Konopatsky A, Makarets Y Polymers (Basel). 2022; 14(24).

PMID: 36559729 PMC: 9780843. DOI: 10.3390/polym14245364.

References

Chao C, Wan M, Morawska L, Johnson G, Ristovski Z, Hargreaves M . Characterization of expiration air jets and droplet size distributions immediately at the mouth opening. J Aerosol Sci. 2020; 40(2):122-133. PMC: 7126899. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2008.10.003. View

Park K, Kang S, Park J, Hwang J . Fabrication of silver nanowire coated fibrous air filter medium via a two-step process of electrospinning and electrospray for anti-bioaerosol treatment. J Hazard Mater. 2021; 411:125043. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125043. View

Stockman T, Zhu S, Kumar A, Wang L, Patel S, Weaver J . Measurements and Simulations of Aerosol Released while Singing and Playing Wind Instruments. ACS Environ Au. 2023; 1(1):71-84. PMC: 8525345. DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.1c00007. View

Yang W, Elankumaran S, Marr L . Concentrations and size distributions of airborne influenza A viruses measured indoors at a health centre, a day-care centre and on aeroplanes. J R Soc Interface. 2011; 8(61):1176-84. PMC: 3119883. DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2010.0686. View

Chen C, Huang S . The effects of particle charge on the performance of a filtering facepiece. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1998; 59(4):227-33. DOI: 10.1080/15428119891010488. View

Tcharkhtchi A, Abbasnezhad N, Zarbini Seydani M, Zirak N, Farzaneh S, Shirinbayan M . An overview of filtration efficiency through the masks: Mechanisms of the aerosols penetration. Bioact Mater. 2020; 6(1):106-122. PMC: 7426537. DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2020.08.002. View

Forouzandeh P, ODowd K, Pillai S . Face masks and respirators in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic: An overview of the standards and testing methods. Saf Sci. 2020; 133:104995. PMC: 7501836. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2020.104995. View

Stiti M, Castanet G, Corber A, Alden M, Berrocal E . Transition from saliva droplets to solid aerosols in the context of COVID-19 spreading. Environ Res. 2021; 204(Pt B):112072. PMC: 8459388. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112072. View

Hogan Jr C, Kettleson E, Lee M, Ramaswami B, Angenent L, Biswas P . Sampling methodologies and dosage assessment techniques for submicrometre and ultrafine virus aerosol particles. J Appl Microbiol. 2005; 99(6):1422-34. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2005.02720.x. View

10.

Rianjanu A, Kusumaatmaja A, Suyono E, Triyana K . Solvent vapor treatment improves mechanical strength of electrospun polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers. Heliyon. 2018; 4(4):e00592. PMC: 5968146. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00592. View

11.

Zangmeister C, Radney J, Vicenzi E, Weaver J . Filtration Efficiencies of Nanoscale Aerosol by Cloth Mask Materials Used to Slow the Spread of SARS-CoV-2. ACS Nano. 2020; 14(7):9188-9200. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c05025. View

12.

Martin Jr S, Moyer E . Electrostatic respirator filter media: filter efficiency and most penetrating particle size effects. Appl Occup Environ Hyg. 2000; 15(8):609-17. DOI: 10.1080/10473220050075617. View

13.

Burton N, Grinshpun S, Reponen T . Physical collection efficiency of filter materials for bacteria and viruses. Ann Occup Hyg. 2006; 51(2):143-51. PMC: 7187796. DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/mel073. View

14.

Zhang S, Liu H, Tang N, Zhou S, Yu J, Ding B . Spider-Web-Inspired PM Filters Based on Self-Sustained Electrostatic Nanostructured Networks. Adv Mater. 2020; 32(29):e2002361. PMC: 7300536. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202002361. View

15.

Burton N, Adhikari A, Grinshpun S, Hornung R, Reponen T . The effect of filter material on bioaerosol collection of Bacillus subtilis spores used as a Bacillus anthracis simulant. J Environ Monit. 2005; 7(5):475-80. DOI: 10.1039/b500056d. View

16.

Li R, Chen B, Zhang T, Ren Z, Song Y, Xiao Y . Global COVID-19 pandemic demands joint interventions for the suppression of future waves. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020; 117(42):26151-26157. PMC: 7585010. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012002117. View

17.

Kai D, Liow S, Loh X . Biodegradable polymers for electrospinning: towards biomedical applications. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2014; 45:659-70. DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2014.04.051. View

18.

Eninger R, Honda T, Adhikari A, Heinonen-Tanski H, Reponen T, Grinshpun S . Filter performance of n99 and n95 facepiece respirators against viruses and ultrafine particles. Ann Occup Hyg. 2008; 52(5):385-96. PMC: 6768072. DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/men019. View

19.

Davies A, Thompson K, Giri K, Kafatos G, Walker J, Bennett A . Testing the efficacy of homemade masks: would they protect in an influenza pandemic?. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2013; 7(4):413-8. PMC: 7108646. DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2013.43. View

20.

Jin L, Griffith S, Sun Z, Yu J, Chan W . On the Flip Side of Mask Wearing: Increased Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds and a Risk-Reducing Solution. Environ Sci Technol. 2021; 55(20):14095-14104. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04591. View