ß÷ßäÉçÇø

Pathogen-Inactivating Facemasks Using a Salt Functionalization System
with Dr. Ilaria Rubino
Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, 10:30 am - 11:00 am MST

This presentation was not recorded at the request of the presenter.

Masks are essential components of the infection prevention and control strategy, as exemplified by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. However, following filtration, pathogens can maintain infectivity on the mask surface, so masks are recommended for a single use and pose a risk of contamination. We developed a salt-based coating that applied on the mask filters quickly inactivates viruses and bacteria through the salt recrystallization process. Additionally, the salt coatings applied to large-pore membranes increased their filtration efficiency without affecting breathability, yielding high-performing filters. Therefore, our salt functionalization system can lead to the development of reusable and pathogen-inactivating masks for infection control during outbreaks.

Dr. Ilaria Rubino received her BSc in Biomedical Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano, Italy and her PhD in Chemical Engineering from the ß÷ßäÉçÇø (2020). Dr. Rubino worked on the development of salt-functionalized filters for pathogen-inactivating facemasks during her PhD in Dr. Hyo-Jick Choi's lab in the Dept. of Chemical and Materials Engineering, ß÷ßäÉçÇø. Dr. Rubino is a recent recipient of the innovation award from Mitacs, a Canadian non-profit which receives funding from the federal government and most provinces to support researchers from academic institutions. Her areas of interest include pathogen inactivation, infection control and antimicrobial materials.