Research Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has led to a global pandemic, with India being one of the worst-hit nations with around 310 million cases. To control the spread of the disease, personnel protective equipment (PPE) and face masks are crucial. N95 masks filter out 95% of airborne particles, but their reuse and decontamination pose threats to environmental pollution. To prevent further spread and inactivate the contagion, researchers propose incorporating Cerium oxide nanomaterials, such as Nanoceria and SNAP, in a mask material developed from bacterial cellulose using electrospinning technique. The developed matte will be characterized for potential antimicrobial-enabled features and used for designing a 3 layered mask with filtering and high-antimicrobial capability. Bacterial cellulose, which has not been commercialized, has been used in the development of BC-based products, such as tissue-engineered scaffolds, wound-dressing materials, and surgical mesh. The proposed approach is expected to confer antimicrobial attributes to the mask, providing broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and potentially preventing polymicrobial infections. The synergistic antimicrobial action is due to the protective effect on SNAP molecules due to ROS scavenging of Nanoceria, allowing prolonged NO release. The proposed idea will lead to the development of a prototype of an antimicrobial and biodegradable cellulosic material for face mask manufacturing.