During the pandemic, masks are mandatory tools to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This virus can be transmitted through droplets such as talking, coughing or sneezing.
Thus, wearing a mask can limit the droplets that come out of the mouth and prevent droplets from sticking to areas of the face such as the mouth and nose.
On the other hand, N95 masks were found to be not 100% effective because the virus could still escape. However, researchers in Mexico claim to have created a new type of face mask that they think has the ability to neutralize COVID-19.
This mask uses a silver and copper nano layer embedded into the mask. If the virus gets into the mask or sticks to its surface, it can be neutralized.
The researchers tested the masks by taking a drop of the virus from a COVID-19 positive patient and placing it on a silver-copper film deposited in polypropylene.
With low viral intake, the virus disappears after about 2 hours. Meanwhile, with a higher viral intake, the virus disappeared after about 8 hours.
"After contact with the silver-copper nanolayer the SARS-CoV-2 membrane broke and the RNA was damaged. So, if you throw it away, it doesn't matter because it is not contaminated like many masks are thrown away." say the researchers.
However, these masks have not been mass-produced and have not been further reviewed by the health agency. But the concept of making this mask sounds promising and may produce more effective masks in the future.
