The novel coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, gowns, and gloves. While PPE is always necessary, the materials they are made from can absorb viruses and bacteria, thereby spreading the disease it is supposed to protect against. With the coronavirus, this is especially concerning, so it is important to find a better way of protecting healthcare workers that allows the reuse of PPE.
Researchers from the LAMP Lab at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) Swanson School of Engineering have created a textile coating that can repel fluids (blood, saliva, etc.) but also keep viruses from sticking to the surface. The results of this work are published in the journal, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.
Lead paper author and Ph.D. student in industrial engineering at Pitt, Anthony Galante, says: “Recently there's been focus on blood-repellent surfaces, and we were interested in achieving this with mechanical durability. We want to push the boundary on what is possible with these types of surfaces, and especially given the current pandemic, we knew it'd be important to test against viruses."
This new coating can withstand ultrasonic washing, scrubbing, and scraping, which makes it superior to current coatings in use, which reduce or lose their repellent abilities when washed. "The durability is particularly important because there are other surface treatments out there, but they're limited to disposable textiles. You can only use a gown or mask once before disposing of it," said Paul Leu, co-author and associate professor of industrial engineering, who leads the LAMP Lab. "Given the PPE shortage, there is a need for coatings that can be applied to reusable medical textiles that can be properly washed and sanitized."
The scientists tested the coating against a strain of the adenovirus by partnering with the Charles T. Campbell Microbiology Laboratory's Research Director Eric Romanowski and Director of Basic Research Robert Shanks, in the Department of Ophthalmology at Pitt. "Adenovirus can be inadvertently picked up in hospital waiting rooms and from contaminated surfaces in general. It is rapidly spread in schools and homes and has an enormous impact on the quality of life -- keeping kids out of school and parents out of work," said Shanks. "This coating on waiting room furniture, for example, could be a major step towards reducing this problem."
The next phase of research will be to test the effectiveness against beta coronaviruses, like the one that causes COVID-19.