Indian Researchers Develop Nanoparticle Coated N95 Mask Using 3D Printing Technology

Researchers from Amity University (Haryana) have developed a reusable, recyclable, washable, odourless, non-allergic and anti-microbial N95 mask by using 3D printing technology. The four-layer mask whose outer layer is made up of silicon has a shelf life of more than 5 years depending upon the use, the union ministry of science and technology said recently.

Amity University researchers collaborated with the University of Nebraska, USA to develop this product that has immense potential as a prophylactic.

Apart from its well-known uses to prevent infections like COVID 19, the mask can also be used by workers in different industries where they are exposed to high volumes of dust like cement factories, brick kilns, cotton factories and pain industries. It can be modified according to the requirement by changing the filter configuration according to the place in which it will be used and can help prevent severe lung diseases such as SILICOSIS. A trademark and a patent have also been filed for the mask called NanoBreath.

The mask contains a four layer filtration system with a first-layer filter that is coated with nanoparticles on the outside. High-efficiency particulate absorption (HEPA) filters are placed in the second, 100 m filters in the third, and moisture absorbent filters in the fourth layer.

Dr. Atul Thakur, Dr. Preeti Thakur, Dr. Lucky Krishnia, and Prof. P. B. Sharma, Dinesh Kumar research scholar from Amity University Haryana (AUH) and Prof. Rakesh Srivastava from University of Nebraska, USA have jointly developed this product.

A Zetasizer Nano ZS, a facility supported by ‘Fund for Improvement of Science & Technology Infrastructure’ (FIST) project of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India which enables high temperature thermal analysis for ceramic materials and catalysis applications, has been used to carry out this work. It is a high performance, versatile system for measuring particle size, zeta potential, molecular weight, particle mobility and micro-rheology.