Surface Functionalization of Non-Woven Fabrics Using a Novel Silica-Resin Coating Technology: Antiviral Treatment of Non-Woven Fabric Filters in Surgical Masks

Chiaki Tsutsumi-Arai, Yoko Iwamiya, Reiko Hoshino, Chika Terada-Ito, Shunsuke Sejima, Kazuhiro Akutsu-Suyama, Mitsuhiro Shibayama, Zenji Hiroi, Reiko Tokuyama-Toda, Ryugo Iwamiya, Kouhei Ijichi, Toshie Chiba and Kazuhito Satomura
Additional contact information
Chiaki Tsutsumi-Arai: Department of Oral Medicine and Stomatology, Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine, 2-1-3 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Kanagawa, Yokohama 230-8501, Japan
Yoko Iwamiya: Choetsu Kaken Co., Ltd., 1-1-40 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Kanagawa, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
Reiko Hoshino: Department of Cultural Properties, Tsurumi University Faculty of Literature, 2-1-3 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Kanagawa, Yokohama 230-8501, Japan
Chika Terada-Ito: Department of Oral Medicine and Stomatology, Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine, 2-1-3 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Kanagawa, Yokohama 230-8501, Japan
Shunsuke Sejima: Biomedical Science Association, 2-20-8 Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0021, Japan
Kazuhiro Akutsu-Suyama: Neutron Science and Technology Center, Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society (CROSS), 162-1 Shirakata, Tokai-mura, Naka-gun, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan
Mitsuhiro Shibayama: Neutron Science and Technology Center, Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society (CROSS), 162-1 Shirakata, Tokai-mura, Naka-gun, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan
Zenji Hiroi: Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan
Reiko Tokuyama-Toda: Department of Oral Medicine and Stomatology, Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine, 2-1-3 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Kanagawa, Yokohama 230-8501, Japan
Ryugo Iwamiya: Choetsu Kaken Co., Ltd., 1-1-40 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Kanagawa, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
Kouhei Ijichi: Department of Oral Medicine and Stomatology, Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine, 2-1-3 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Kanagawa, Yokohama 230-8501, Japan
Toshie Chiba: Research Center of Electron Microscopy, Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine, 2-1-3 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Kanagawa, Yokohama 230-8501, Japan
Kazuhito Satomura: Department of Oral Medicine and Stomatology, Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine, 2-1-3 Tsurumi, Tsurumi-ku, Kanagawa, Yokohama 230-8501, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: Masks are effective for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. If antimicrobial properties can be applied to the non-woven fabric filters in masks, they can become a more effective countermeasure against human-to-human and environmental infections. We investigated the possibilities of carrying antimicrobial agents on the fiber surfaces of non-woven fabric filters by applying silica-resin coating technology, which can form silica-resin layers on such fabrics at normal temperature and pressure. Scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis showed that a silica-resin layer was formed on the fiber surface of non-woven fabric filters. Bioassays for coronavirus and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) revealed that all antimicrobial agents tested loaded successfully onto non-woven fabric filters without losing their inactivation effects against the human coronavirus (inhibition efficacy: >99.999%). These results indicate that this technology could be used to load a functional substance onto a non-woven fabric filter by vitrifying its surface. Silica-resin coating technology also has the potential of becoming an important breakthrough not only in the prevention of infection but also in various fields, such as prevention of building aging, protection of various cultural properties, the realization of a plastic-free society, and prevention of environmental pollution.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; mask; non-woven fabric; antiviral activity; silica-resin coating technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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