Gareth Cave, a scientist in Nottingham, has invented a face
mask that “kills more than 90% of flu and coronavirus”.
Cave, a scientist and nanotechnology expert at Nottingham
Trent University, said the new masks are due to go into production in
Nottingham late November and he hopes they will be commercially available from
December.
According to Daily Mail, the face masks will be available
for healthcare, transport and food service settings.
The new mask is said to use a copper lining which kills the
virus rather than blocking or trapping it.
The anti-viral face covering features a fluid-repellent
outer layer that reduces the inhalation of droplets that carry the disease.
The face mask features five layers, including an antiviral
layer made of nano-copper.
There is also a copper lining embedded in the mask which
releases ions that kill the virus if they come into contact with it.
During tests, the face mask reportedly showed the ability to
kill more than 90% of coronavirus and influenza viruses over seven hours, and
had a filtration efficiency of 99.98%.
“The mask we’ve developed has been proven to inactivate
viruses upon contact; the antiviral layer kills virus which has been blocked by
the filter layers,” Gareth said.
“The challenge with conventional surgical-type masks is that
they only block virus from entering or exiting the mask. They don’t have an
active mechanism for killing it once it’s trapped in the mask.
“Our new antiviral mask has been designed to utilise the
existing barrier technology and combine it with our nanotechnology to kill the
virus once it is trapped there.
“We’ve added the barrier layer to both sides of the mask so
not only does it protect the wearer but also those around. By killing the virus
on contact, it also means that the used face mask can be safely disposed of and
not be a potential source of passive transfer.
“It’s exciting to see our technology move forward and make a
real impact towards the fight against the spread of COVID-19.”
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