A novel N95 respirator with chitosan nanoparticles: mechanical, antiviral, microbiological and cytotoxicity evaluations

• Published in: Discover nano 2023-09, Vol.18 (1), p.118-118, Article 118
• Main Authors: Landim, Marcela Guimarães, Carneiro, Marcella Lemos Brettas, Joanitti, Graziella Anselmo, Anflor, Carla Tatiana Mota, Marinho, David Dobkowski, Rodrigues, José Filipe Bacalhau, de Sousa, Wladymyr Jefferson Bacalhau, Fernandes, Daniel de Oliveira, Souza, Beatriz Ferreira, Ombredane, Alicia Simalie, do Nascimento, Jessica Catarine Frutuoso, Felice, Gisela de Jesus, Kubota, Aline Midori Adati, Barbosa, Juliana Simas Coutinho, Ohno, John Hideki, Amoah, Solomon Kweku Sagoe, Pena, Lindomar José, Luz, Glécia Virgolino da Silva, de Andrade, Laise Rodrigues, Pinheiro, Willie Oliveira, Ribeiro, Bergmann Morais, Formiga, Fábio Rocha, Fook, Marcus Vinícius Lia, Rosa, Mário Fabrício Fleury, Peixoto, Henry Maia, Luiz Carregaro, Rodrigo, Rosa, Suélia de Siqueira Rodrigues Fleury
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols; Antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial agents; Antiviral; Bacteria; Biopolymer; Cell lines; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chitosan; Coronavirus; Coronaviruses; Cytotoxicity; Facemask; Filtrate; Flammability; Health risks; In vitro methods and tests; Materials Science; Mechanical tests; Microorganisms; Molecular Medicine; Nanochemistry; Nanomaterial; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Penetration resistance; Polydispersity; Protective equipment; Respirators; Viruses; Zeta potential
• ISSN: 2731-9229; 1931-7573; 2731-9229; 1556-276X
• DOI: 10.1186/s11671-023-03892-8

Background It is known that some sectors of hospitals have high bacteria and virus loads that can remain as aerosols in the air and represent a significant health threat for patients and mainly professionals that work in the place daily. Therefore, the need for a respirator able to improve the filtration barrier of N95 masks and even inactivating airborne virus and bacteria becomes apparent. Such a fact motivated the creation of a new N95 respirator which employs chitosan nanoparticles on its intermediate layer (SN95 + CNP). Results The average chitosan nanoparticle size obtained was 165.20 ± 35.00 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.36 ± 0.03 and a zeta potential of 47.50 ± 1.70 mV. Mechanical tests demonstrate that the SN95 + CNP respirator is more resistant and meets the safety requisites of aerosol penetration, resistance to breath and flammability, presenting higher potential to filtrate microbial and viral particles when compared to conventional SN95 respirators. Furthermore, biological in vitro tests on bacteria, fungi and mammalian cell lines (HaCat, Vero E6 and CCL-81) corroborate the hypothesis that our SN95 + CNP respirator presents strong antimicrobial activity and is safe for human use. There was a reduction of 96.83% of the alphacoronavirus virus and 99% of H1N1 virus and MHV-3 betacoronavirus after 120 min of contact compared to the conventional respirator (SN95), demonstrating that SN95 + CNP have a relevant potential as personal protection equipment. Conclusions Due to chitosan nanotechnology, our novel N95 respirator presents improved mechanical, antimicrobial and antiviral characteristics.