RE: Final results RNS25 Jun 2021 05:55
https://www.nhsgresearchanddevelopment.scot.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2020-successful-applicants-and-summaries3.pdf
"Dr Alf MartinezFelipe
Novel nanoparticle-embedded membranes for long-term bioactive SARS-CoV-2 prevention
Summary
Face masks are a key factor in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), which first exhibited human-to-human transmission in December 2019 and has now infected millions of people within months across 213 different countries (November 2020). In this project we will prepare new materials to increase the efficiency of face masks turning them into active barriers for SARS-CoV-2.
To do that, at the University of Aberdeen we will prepare new silver nanoparticles embedded in microfibres, which will retain the aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2, and we will also measure the therapeutic potential of the materials by using the antiviral potential of Ag ions.
We will develop an innovative and versatile microfluidic device to test new materials and treatments to fight Covid-19 and other viral and bacterial outbreaks, and we will optimise the performance of the membranes using experimental and computational models.
We expect that our findings will open new research lines and will attract larger projects to implement the new materials on commercial FN95 masks, and will alleviate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemics on economies, communities and NHS workers and resources."