title: Antimicrobial effect of surgical masks coated with nanoparticles.
abstract: This study assessed the antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles (consisting of a mixture of silver nitrate and titanium dioxide) and nanoparticle-coated facemasks to protect against infectious agents. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the nanoparticles against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 1/128 and 1/512, respectively. The antibacterial activity of nanoparticle-coated masks was quantified according to the procedures of AATCC 100-1999. A 100% reduction in viable E. coli and S. aureus was observed in the coated mask materials after 48 h of incubation. Skin irritation was not observed in any of the volunteers who wore the facemasks. Nanoparticles show promise when applied as a coating to the surface of protective clothing in reducing the risk of transmission of infectious agents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Q W
authors.initials: QW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008397:Masks / Q000382:microbiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014025:Titanium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C009495:titanium dioxide; D012835:Silver Nitrate; D014025:Titanium