Attaching protein-adsorbing silica particles to the surface of cotton substrates for bioaerosol capture including SARS-CoV-2

Kieran Collings, Cedric Boisdon, Tung-Ting Sham, Kevin Skinley, Hyun-Kyung Oh, Tessa Prince, Adham Ahmed, Shaun H. Pennington, Philip J. Brownridge, Thomas Edwards, Giancarlo A. Biagini, Claire E. Eyers, Amanda Lamb, Peter Myers () and Simon Maher ()
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Kieran Collings: University of Liverpool
Cedric Boisdon: University of Liverpool
Tung-Ting Sham: University of Liverpool
Kevin Skinley: University of Liverpool
Hyun-Kyung Oh: University of Liverpool
Tessa Prince: University of Liverpool
Adham Ahmed: University of Liverpool
Shaun H. Pennington: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Philip J. Brownridge: University of Liverpool
Thomas Edwards: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Giancarlo A. Biagini: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Claire E. Eyers: University of Liverpool
Amanda Lamb: University of Liverpool
Peter Myers: University of Liverpool
Simon Maher: University of Liverpool

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract The novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has necessitated a global increase in the use of face masks to limit the airborne spread of the virus. The global demand for personal protective equipment has at times led to shortages of face masks for the public, therefore makeshift masks have become commonplace. The severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a spherical particle size of ~97 nm. However, the airborne transmission of this virus requires the expulsion of droplets, typically ~0.6–500 µm in diameter (by coughing, sneezing, breathing, and talking). In this paper, we propose a face covering that has been designed to effectively capture SARS-CoV-2 whilst providing uncompromised comfort and breathability for the wearer. Herein, we describe a material approach that uses amorphous silica microspheres attached to cotton fibres to capture bioaerosols, including SARS CoV-2. This has been demonstrated for the capture of aerosolised proteins (cytochrome c, myoglobin, ubiquitin, bovine serum albumin) and aerosolised inactivated SARS CoV-2, showing average filtration efficiencies of ~93% with minimal impact on breathability.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40696-x

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