Researchers Are Designing Face Masks With An External Enzyme Membrane
According to the media BGR, US researchers are developing a mask that can kill SARS-CoV-2 virus upon contact. Researchers from the University of Kentucky are studying an outer facial mask layer, which may include a membrane with enzymes capable of capturing and killing viruses. These enzymes will attach to SARS-CoV-2 components that bind to human cells and separate them. The virus will be killed by contact."The new coronavirus is covered with stick-like spike glycoprotein ('S protein'), which makes it look like a crown, or coronal appearance," said chemical engineering professor Dibakar Bhattacharyya. Newsweek. "This spike is also what allows the virus to enter host cells after entering the body. This new membrane will include proteolytic enzymes that will attach to the protein spike of coronavirus and separate it, thus killing the virus. "
Bhattacharyya, the director of the University's Membrane Science Center, received 150,000 US dollars to work on the idea. He said it would take six months to make and test the membrane mask.
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The engineer explained that the mask can also remove viral particles from the air, which may be an additional benefit of the mask. "This innovative technology will further slow down or even prevent the spread of the virus. It can also be applied to resist various human pathogenic viruses in the future. "
He said that the film would be very thin and the user can breathe "very easily" when wearing it. The mask can also change color when a virus is detected. Although all of this sounds good in theory, researchers still need to prove that masks are safe to use and find ways to make them widely available. In addition, it is not clear how much such masks would cost and whether they can be reused.