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Leidemann J, Dias JP, Al-Nasra M. Design of customizable personal protective equipment for 3-D printing: Performance evaluation of N95 respirators using computational fluid dynamics. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2024; 21:169-188. [PMID: 38451217 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2299811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
3-D printing the structural components of facemasks and personal protective equipment (PPE) based on 3-D facial scans creates a high degree of customizability. As a result, the facemask fits more comfortably with its user's specific facial characteristics, filters contaminants more effectively with its increased sealing effect, and minimizes waste with its cleanable and reusable plastic structure compared to other baseline models. In this work, 3-D renditions of the user's face taken with smartphone laser scanning techniques were used to generate customized computer-aided design (CAD) models for the several components of an N95 respirator, which are each designed with considerations for assembly and 3-D printing constraints. Thorough analyses with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out to verify the respirator's efficiency in filtering airborne contaminants to comply with industry safety guidelines and generate data to showcase the relationships between various input and output design parameters. This involved a comparative study to identify the ideal cross-sectional geometry of exposed filter fabric, a sensitivity study to evaluate the respirator's ability to protect the user in various scenarios, and the 3-D printing of several prototypes to estimate printing time, cost of materials, and comfort level at the user's face. Results showed that the combination of different digital tools can increase efficiency in the design, performance assessment, and production of customized N95-rated respirators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Leidemann
- Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg, PA, USA
| | - João Paulo Dias
- Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg, PA, USA
| | - Moayyad Al-Nasra
- Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg, PA, USA
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Ferrari IV, Giuntoli G, Pisani A, Cavallo A, Mazzetti P, Fonnesu R, Rosellini A, Pistello M, Al Kayal T, Cataldo A, Montanari R, Varone A, Castellino M, Antonaroli S, Soldani G, Losi P. One-step silver coating of polypropylene surgical mask with antibacterial and antiviral properties. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23196. [PMID: 38163242 PMCID: PMC10754878 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Face masks can filter droplets containing viruses and bacteria minimizing the transmission and spread of respiratory pathogens but are also an indirect source of microbes transmission. A novel antibacterial and antiviral Ag-coated polypropylene surgical mask obtained through the in situ and one-step deposition of metallic silver nanoparticles, synthesized by silver mirror reaction combined with sonication or agitation methods, is proposed in this study. SEM analysis shows Ag nanoparticles fused together in a continuous and dense layer for the coating obtained by sonication, whereas individual Ag nanoparticles around 150 nm were obtained combining the silver mirror reaction with agitation. EDX, XRD and XPS confirm the presence of metallic Ag in both coatings and also oxidized Ag in samples by agitation. A higher amount of Ag nanoparticles is deposited on samples by sonication, as calculated by TGA. Further, both coatings are biocompatible and show antibacterial properties: coating by sonication caused 24 % and 40 % of bacterial reduction while coating by agitation 48 % and 96 % against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. At 1 min of contact with SARS-CoV-2, the coating by agitation has an antiviral capacity of 75 % against 24 % of the one by sonication. At 1 h, both coatings achieve 100 % of viral inhibition. Nonetheless, larger samples could be produced only through the silver mirror reaction combined with agitation, preserving the integrity of the mask. In conclusion, the silver-coated mask produced by silver mirror reaction combined with agitation is scalable, has excellent physico-chemical characteristics as well as significant biological properties, with higher antimicrobial activities, providing additional protection and preventing the indirect transmission of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Vito Ferrari
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Massa, 54100, Italy
| | - Giulia Giuntoli
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Massa, 54100, Italy
| | - Anissa Pisani
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Massa, 54100, Italy
| | - Aida Cavallo
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Massa, 54100, Italy
| | - Paola Mazzetti
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy and Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Rossella Fonnesu
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy and Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Alfredo Rosellini
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy and Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy and Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Tamer Al Kayal
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Massa, 54100, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Montanari
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - Alessandra Varone
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - Micaela Castellino
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, 10129, Turin, Italy
| | - Simonetta Antonaroli
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - Giorgio Soldani
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Massa, 54100, Italy
| | - Paola Losi
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Massa, 54100, Italy
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