scholarly journals Use of Polycaprolactone Electrospun Nanofiber Mesh in a Face Mask

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4272
Author(s):  
Morshed Khandaker ◽  
Helga Progri ◽  
Dhakshyane Tamil Arasu ◽  
Sadegh Nikfarjam ◽  
Nabila Shamim

Electrospun nanofiber mesh has previously been used as an air filtration device. However, the qualification of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber mesh cloth in face masks to protect individuals against airborne particles carrying microorganisms has yet to be investigated. The long-term goal of this study is to develop methods to use PCL nanofiber mesh to provide better protection against microorganisms. To achieve this goal, we observed the morphology, water droplet absorption, thermal (differential scanning calorimetry), mechanical, and airborne particle filtering capabilities, and also the microbial activities of a PCL cloth, to evaluate whether it is suitable to act as a filter in a face mask. We have produced a polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber cloth after electrospinning it onto a drum for 3 and 10 min, referred to hereafter as PCL-3 and PCL-10, respectively. Our study found that the middle protection layer (control) of the Henry Schein Earloop Procedure Mask contains pores (average diameter = 5.72 ± 0.62 µm) which are 48 times larger than the diameter of a microorganism an average diameter of ~120 nanometers. However, PCL-10 nanofiber membranes show pores with an average diameter of 1.42 ± 0.34 µm. Our contact angle measurement tests found that all the samples were very hydrophobic (contact angle values varied between 120 and 150 degrees). However, both PCL cloths’ contact angle values were lower compared to the control. The produced PCL cloths showed a lower water droplet absorption compared to the control. Thermal studies found that PCL is stable in extreme conditions and no plasticizing effect occurs due to the presence of a solvent. Mechanical tests showed that PCL-10 cloth had higher strength and modulus compared to the control and PCL-3 under tension loading conditions. A vacuum experiment found that the PCL-10 fiber cloth could withstand a negative pressure of 18 Psi without any signs of breakage, and the mask was able to capture airborne particles and microorganisms. The feasibility of immobilizing anti-bacterial nanoparticles with PCL during electrospinning creates the future potential of producing an anti-bacterial face mask using PCL.

Author(s):  
Supun Amarathunga ◽  
Lochana Ranathunga ◽  
Prabath Lakmal ◽  
Dimuth Saranga ◽  
Rasara Samarasinghe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Gehad G. Mohamed ◽  
Walaa H. Mahmoud ◽  
Ahmed M. Refaat

Metal complexes of the 2,2'-(1,3-phenylenebis(diazene-2,1-diyl))bis(4-aminobenzoic acid) diazo ligand (H2L) derived from m-phenylenediamine and p-aminobenzoic acid were synthesized and characterized by different spectral, thermal, and analytical tools. The H2L ligand reacted with the metal ions Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) as 1 : 1 stoichiometry. All complexes displayed an octahedral geometry according to the electronic and magnetic moment measurements. The IR spectra revealed the binding of the azo ligand to the metal ions via two azo nitrogen atoms and protonated carboxylate O in a neutral tetradentate manner. Both IR and 1H NMR spectra documented the involvement of the carboxylate group without proton displacement. The thermal studies pointed out that the complexes had higher thermal stability comparable with that of the free ligand. SEM images revealed the presence of the diazo ligand and its Cd(II) complex in a nanostructure form. The contact angle measurements proved that the Cd(II) complex can be considered as a superhydrophobic material. The molecular and electronic structure of H2L and [Cd(H2L)Cl2].H2O were optimized theoretically, and the quantum chemical parameters were calculated. The biological activities of the ligand, as well as its metal complexes, have been tested in vitro against some bacteria and fungi species. The results showed that all the tested compounds have significant biological activities with different sensitivity levels. The binding between H2L and its Cd(II) complex with receptors of the crystal structure of S. aureus (PDB ID: 3Q8U), crystal structure of protein phosphatase (PPZ1) of Candida albicans (PDB ID: 5JPE), receptors of breast cancer mutant oxidoreductase (PDB ID: 3HB5), and crystal structure of Escherichia coli (PDB ID: 3T88) was predicted and given in detail using molecular docking.


2019 ◽  
Vol 894 ◽  
pp. 104-111
Author(s):  
Thanh Long Le ◽  
Jyh Chen Chen ◽  
Huy Bich Nguyen

In this study, the numerical computation is used to investigate the transient movement of a water droplet in a microchannel. For tracking the evolution of the free interface between two immiscible fluids, we employed the finite element method with the two-phase level set technique to solve the Navier-Stokes equations coupled with the energy equation. Both the upper wall and the bottom wall of the microchannel are set to be an ambient temperature. 40mW heat source is placed at the distance of 1 mm from the initial position of a water droplet. When the heat source is turned on, a pair of asymmetric thermocapillary convection vortices is formed inside the droplet and the thermocapillary on the receding side is smaller than that on the advancing side. The temperature gradient inside the droplet increases quickly at the initial times and then decreases versus time. Therefore, the actuation velocity of the water droplet first increases significantly, and then decreases continuously. The dynamic contact angle is strongly affected by the oil flow motion and the net thermocapillary momentum inside the droplet. The advancing contact angle is always larger than the receding contact angle during actuation process.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haydee Vargas-Villagran ◽  
Elvia Teran-Salgado ◽  
Maraolina Dominguez-Diaz ◽  
Osvaldo Flores ◽  
Bernardo Campillo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIn this research, we describe the electrospinning processing of polylactic acid (PLA) and the influence of silver nanoparticles on the morphology and microstructure of produced non woven membranes thus produced. The PLA was electrospun from a chloroform solution and a filamentary and granular morphology was obtained, the filaments having an average diameter of 1.25 μm, When silver nanoparticles (of ca. 12 nm size) were incorporated, the filaments diameter was reduced to an average of 0.65 μm, and the density of beads was also reduced. The membranes were rather amorphous, as revealed by X-ray scattering, presumably due to the quenching process associated with the electrospinning process. Water contact angle measurements showed that silver nanoparticles induced significant hidrophobicity in the membranes as neat PLA membrane had a contact angle of 54° and PLA/Ag membrane exhibited an angle of 115°.


Author(s):  
Bo Shi ◽  
Shashank Sinha ◽  
Vijay K. Dhir

This paper presents a molecular simulation study of the contact angles of water droplets on a platinum surface for a range of temperatures. SPC/E and Z-P model are used for the water-water and water-platinum potentials, respectively. The results show that the contact angle decreases with the increase of system temperatures and increases when the potential decreases. When the temperature is high enough, the contact angles drop to zero degrees. The results were compared with the argon-virtual solid wall and water-Aluminum results, a similar trend was found.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matilda Backholm ◽  
Daniel Molpeceres ◽  
Maja Vuckovac ◽  
Heikki Nurmi ◽  
Matti J. Hokkanen ◽  
...  

Abstract Superhydrophobicity is a remarkable surface property found in nature and mimicked in many engineering applications, including anti-wetting, anti-fogging, and anti-fouling coatings. As synthetic superhydrophobic coatings approach the extreme non-wetting limit, quantification of their slipperiness becomes increasingly challenging: although contact angle goniometry remains widely used as the gold standard method, it has proven insufficient. Here, micropipette force sensors are used to directly measure the friction force of water droplets moving on super-slippery superhydrophobic surfaces that cannot be quantified with contact angle goniometry. Superhydrophobic etched silicon surfaces with tunable slipperiness are investigated as model samples. Micropipette force sensors render up to three orders of magnitude better force sensitivity than using the indirect contact angle goniometry approach. We directly measure a friction force as low as 7 ± 4 nN for a millimetric water droplet moving on the most slippery surface. Finally, we combine micropipette force sensors with particle image velocimetry and reveal purely rolling water droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces.


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