Virucidal Coated Surgical Masks to Strengthen Protection for Healthcare Workers Against Viral Infections
Team L&M
A research team from IIT Kanpur, supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is developing an advanced protective antiviral coating to enhance safety in medical masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) used in the fight against COVID-19.
The innovation focuses on creating a cost-effective, medicated coating using a combination of antimicrobial polymers and reusable antiviral molecules, aimed at improving protection for healthcare workers.
Enhanced Protection for Healthcare Workers
Doctors, nurses, and frontline medical staff treating COVID-19 patients are at high risk of exposure. This new coating is designed to provide an additional protective barrier, significantly reducing the chances of contamination during patient care.
The solution also supports large-scale production due to its affordability, making it suitable for widespread use in hospitals and healthcare systems.
How the Antiviral Coating Works
Researchers from the Department of Chemistry, IIT Kanpur, are engineering a virucidal polymer coating that:
- Prevents attachment of bacteria and viruses on surfaces
- Includes antiviral molecules that can destabilise or neutralise coronaviruses and influenza viruses
- Combines antimicrobial polymers with functionalised drugs for a synergistic antiviral effect
This dual-action approach enhances the durability and effectiveness of PPE materials, making them safer for long-term medical use.
Scalable and Cost-Effective Innovation
The project prioritises affordability and scalability and enables large-scale production of the antiviral coating without significantly increasing PPE manufacturing costs. This makes it a promising solution for strengthening healthcare safety infrastructure.
