The Catholic University in Spain recently unveiled masks capable of neutralizing the virus responsible for COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, as well as other multidrug-resistant bacteria and viruses. These new masks, called "FFPCOVID MASK," are regarded as a significant "revolutionary invention" in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
These masks were developed through research conducted since the beginning of the outbreak by the Laboratory of Biomaterials and Bioengineering at the Catholic University, led by Professor Ángel Serrano. The research involved the development of smart filters with disabling capabilities, which are now incorporated into these new masks.
A New Step in Fighting COVID-19
The principal author of the study, Ángel Serrano, explains: "This new technology represents a step forward in COVID-19 protection, as traditional masks used by the population lack antimicrobial properties and do not prevent the virus from reaching the respiratory system." Serrano adds, "We wanted to go further and develop a mask that also has the ability to destroy the virus upon contact with the fabric. We also found that our filter was effective against highly resistant bacteria that cannot be destroyed by antibiotics."
Serrano points out that in addition to the masks' ability to protect individuals from various viruses, they can also deactivate most microorganisms expelled from our mouths while speaking, resulting in significantly less infectious waste.
Combating Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
The World Health Organization has predicted that by 2050, it is highly likely that more people will die from infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria (which possess multiple resistance genes) than from cancer. This underscores the importance of these new masks, which can protect users from these types of bacteria, which cannot be eradicated by antibiotics and pose a significant health risk globally both now and in the future.
Serrano continues: "Our goal has always been to develop affordable healthcare materials to reach the entire community during this emergency we have been experiencing for a while now." The lead researcher concludes: "Today is a great day for our team. This has been pure research work, during which we have spent long hours in the lab, and transforming this effort into a real product that can help users stand against the emerging pandemic is a significant achievement."
Searching for a Production Partner
For his part, the head of the scientific research department at the Spanish university, Francisco Artiga, states that turning the research effort into a real product required a corporate partner to support the project, while ensuring that the product's price remains affordable, in line with the social responsibility values upheld by the university.
According to Artiga, this ethical commitment posed an additional challenge for researchers, as the research team was looking for a company to adopt this new project and agree to a suitable price point for the product. He adds, "The collaboration between the university and the mask-producing company has been extremely fruitful; merging scientific knowledge with industrial capabilities is a winning and secure bet."
The commercial director of the mask-producing company, José Soriano, clarified during the presentation that the university and the company reached a cooperation agreement from the very first day, as both entities shared the same vision: a product that should serve the community, considering those who have suffered from this crisis, including healthcare workers and all civilians.
Soriano added, "Less than three months have passed, and we have managed to start a project with a series that is free from the technical complications resolved in record time. This is an achievement for the integration of universities and companies, and we are very proud of the work we have done with a remarkable institution like the Catholic University of Valencia."
