title: Universal and reusable virus deactivation system for respiratory protection.
abstract: Aerosolized pathogens are a leading cause of respiratory infection and transmission. Currently used protective measures pose potential risk of primary/secondary infection and transmission. Here, we report the development of a universal, reusable virus deactivation system by functionalization of the main fibrous filtration unit of surgical mask with sodium chloride salt. The salt coating on the fiber surface dissolves upon exposure to virus aerosols and recrystallizes during drying, destroying the pathogens. When tested with tightly sealed sides, salt-coated filters showed remarkably higher filtration efficiency than conventional mask filtration layer, and 100% survival rate was observed in mice infected with virus penetrated through salt-coated filters. Viruses captured on salt-coated filters exhibited rapid infectivity loss compared to gradual decrease on bare filters. Salt-coated filters proved highly effective in deactivating influenza viruses regardless of subtypes and following storage in harsh environmental conditions. Our results can be applied in obtaining a broad-spectrum, airborne pathogen prevention device in preparation for epidemic and pandemic of respiratory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, 130-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Fu-Shi
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rubino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 130-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada.
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada.
authors.forename: Hyo-Jick
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices / Q000821:virology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D012965:Sodium Chloride