TAGS: Medical
An international team of scientists and engineers from the University of Cambridge, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, ResInnova Labs and Ascend Performance Materials has found that a nylon fabric embedded with zinc ions successfully inactivated 99% of the viruses that cause COVID-19 and the common flu.
99% Reduction of Virus Particles
The researchers described how a
fabric made of nylon 6,6 embedded with active zinc ions adsorbed virus-containing moisture droplets and effectively inactivated the particles. The fabric produced a 2-log, or 99%, reduction of virus particles in one hour.
The research team also was able to demonstrate that nylon with active zinc ions remains stable over time, keeping its virus-inactivating properties after 50 washes.
“
The study shows how nylon textile fabric with zinc outperforms the widely used cotton and polypropylene materials at virus adsorption and inactivation,” Vikram Gopal, Ph.D., co-senior author and chief technology officer at Ascend Performance Materials said.
The findings have significant implications for future development of PPE, Dr. Gopal said.
“
Pathogen-free PPE does more than just cut down the risk of transmitting the virus,” Gopal said. “
By making PPE washable and reusable, you reduce the need for single-use products, keeping hundreds of millions of masks out of landfills.”
Source: Ascend Performance Materials