Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145, Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
Nano Lett. 2022 Aug 24;22(16):6744-6752. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c02278. Epub 2022 Aug 5.
To prevent interhuman transmission of viruses, new mask types─claiming improved filtration─require careful performance characterization. Here, a microfluidic spray device that can effectively simulate droplets emitted during coughing or sneezing was developed to spray droplets containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that mimic SARS-CoV-2 to overcome the shortcomings associated with using biosamples. The light scattered by the AuNPs passing through the mask is successfully analyzed by using an automated scattering light mapping system within a duration of 2 min, thereby enabling high-throughput analysis of the filtering efficiency of various types of commercial masks. The differences in efficiency in terms of same mask type from different manufacturers, double masking, and prolonged usage, which are challenging to analyze with conventional testing systems, can also be assessed. AuNP-mediated mask performance evaluation enables the rapid determination of mask efficiency according to particle size and can contribute to the rapid response to counter new emerging infectious biohazards.
为防止病毒在人际间传播，需要对声称具有改进过滤性能的新型口罩类型进行仔细的性能特征描述。在这里，开发了一种微流喷射装置，该装置可以有效地模拟咳嗽或打喷嚏时释放的飞沫，将含有模拟 SARS-CoV-2 的金纳米颗粒（AuNPs）的飞沫喷出，以克服使用生物样本的缺点。通过使用自动化散射光映射系统，在 2 分钟内成功分析了穿过口罩的 AuNP 散射的光，从而能够实现各种商业口罩过滤效率的高通量分析。对于不同制造商的相同口罩类型、双层口罩和长时间使用等方面的效率差异，传统的测试系统难以进行分析，而该方法也可以进行评估。基于 AuNP 的口罩性能评估可以根据粒径快速确定口罩效率，有助于对新出现的传染性生物危害做出快速反应。
