Improved protection of filtering facepiece through inactivation of pathogens by hypertonic salt solutions – A possible COVID-19 prevention device

Bibliographic Details
Title: Improved protection of filtering facepiece through inactivation of pathogens by hypertonic salt solutions – A possible COVID-19 prevention device
Authors: Franz Tatzber, Ulrike Resch, Meinrad Lindschinger, Gerhard Cvirn, Willibald Wonisch
Source: Preventive Medicine Reports, Vol 20, Iss , Pp 101270- (2020)
Publisher Information: Elsevier, 2020.
Publication Year: 2020
Collection: LCC:Medicine
Subject Terms: Filtering facepiece, Hypertonic saline, COVID-19, Protection, Medicine
More Details: The filtering facepiece operates through filtration without the ability to kill the viruses. If the filtration might be combined with antiviral agents simultaneously in the masks, this would be much more efficient during the use of these masks and against cross-infection after being discarded. For centuries, sodium chloride (NaCl) contributes to inhibiting pathogens on various occasions. If aerosol with infectious agents reaches the filtering face-piecé surface of the filtering face-piece, coated with hypertonic saline, they become attracted by hygroscopic salt crystals. Proteins and nucleic acids lose their structural integrity and become inactivated concerning their infectious properties. We provide further evidence for cell growth inhibition with hypertonic saline in yeast cells comprising a defending cell wall. Proliferation was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner, i.e., above 50 g/L, yeast cell proliferation was completely blocked. At a NaCl concentration of 100 g/L, even decomposition of the original inoculated organisms was observed. Therefore, we conclude that hypertonic saline- coated filtering facepiece might strongly reduce the numbers of infectious particles on their surfaces and thus protect mask carriers efficiently from infections.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2211-3355
Relation: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221133552030228X; https://doaj.org/toc/2211-3355
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101270
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/7f6f89823e9943fba12bb2294d33d516
Accession Number: edsdoj.7f6f89823e9943fba12bb2294d33d516
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:22113355
DOI:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101270
Published in:Preventive Medicine Reports
Language:English