Transmission of infectious respiratory diseases starts from pathogen-laden respiratory droplets released during coughing, sneezing, or speaking. Here we report an on-mask chemical modulation strategy, whereby droplets escaping a masking layer are chemically contaminated with antipathogen molecules (e.g., mineral acids or copper salts) preloaded on polyaniline-coated fabrics. A colorimetric method based on the color change of polyaniline and a fluorometric method utilizing fluorescence quenching microscopy are developed for visualizing the degree of modification of the escaped droplets by H+ and Cu2+, respectively. It is found that even fabrics with low fiber-packing densities (e.g., 19%) can readily modify 49% of the escaped droplets by number, which accounts for about 82% by volume. The chemical modulation strategy could offer additional public health benefits to the use of face covering to make the sources less infectious, helping to strengthen the response to the current pandemic or future outbreaks of infectious respiratory diseases.
Keyphrases
- public health
- respiratory tract
- single molecule
- drinking water
- gold nanoparticles
- sars cov
- high resolution
- living cells
- coronavirus disease
- reduced graphene oxide
- risk assessment
- heavy metals
- high throughput
- hydrogen peroxide
- sensitive detection
- mass spectrometry
- carbon nanotubes
- optical coherence tomography
- high speed
- current status
- metal organic framework