A recent Medgadget article discussed a new development that could make reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) repel viruses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh created a coating that can be applied to textiles to make them repel viruses and bodily fluids such as saliva and blood. The coating contains polytetrafluorethylene nanoparticles that are suspended in a solvent that’s drop-casted and bound to the textile fibers with heat.
The key to the solution is that it can be washed and even scrubbed repeatedly while maintaining its antiviral properties. The solution has been tested on its ability to repel adenoviruses, and the team plans to test it against coronaviruses in the future. “Given the PPE shortage, there is a need for coatings that can be applied to reusable medical textiles that can be properly washed and sanitized,” said one researcher involved with the project.
