A team of scientists has developed a medical film for a face mask that can capture and inactivate the “spike” protein in SARS-CoV-2 upon contact.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Professor Dipkar Bhattacharya of the University of Kentucky School of Engineering, who led the study, along with collaborators from various disciplines in the UK, began working on the creation of the materials.

SARS-CoV-2 is coated with “spike” proteins, which allow the virus to enter host cells once in the body.

The team developed a membrane containing proteolytic enzymes that attaches to the spike protein and neutralizes it.

“This new material can filter out the virus like an N95 mask, but it also includes antiviral enzymes that completely inactivate it,” said Bhattacharya, who is also director of the UK’s Center for Membrane Sciences. This innovation is another layer of protection against SARS-CoV-2 that could help. in preventing the spread of the virus. It is promising to develop new products that can protect against SARS-CoV-2 and a number of other viruses that cause human diseases.”

The team developed the membrane, which was made through an existing collaboration with a membrane manufacturer. Then they tested it using the “spike” proteins in SARS-CoV-2 that had been frozen onto the synthetic molecules.

The material was not only able to filter out aerosols the size of the Corona virus, but was also able to destroy the “spike” proteins within 30 seconds of contact.

The study, published in Communications Materials, notes that the membrane provided a protection factor above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard for N95 masks, meaning it can filter out at least 95% of airborne particles.

The study notes, “These membranes have proven to be a promising system to advance towards a new generation of respiratory face masks and closed environment filters that can significantly reduce coronavirus transmission by disrupting the virus protein and capturing enhanced aerosol particles.”

Researchers develop antiviral face mask that can capture, deactivate SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on contact https://t.co/nfX8zGYGQy

— Lifeboat Foundation (@LifeboatHQ) July 22, 2022

‼️Huge congratulations to NSF Graduate Research Fellows Rollie Mills and Ronald Vogler and DAAD RISE recipient Jacob Concolino, who worked on this incredible project!https://t.co/FnxknjFOSp

— Univ. of Kentucky Nationally Competitive Awards (@UK_awards) July 20, 2022