ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) all round the world and, in turn, it has also increased the waste caused by disposable PPE. This has exerted a severe environmental impact, so in our work, we propose the utilization of a sustainable electrospun nanofiber based on poly lactic acid (PLA), as it is biobased and conditionally degradable. We optimized the weight percentage of the PLA-precursor solution and found that 19% PLA produces fine nanofibers with good morphology. We also introduced carbon nanodots (CNDs) in the nanofibers and evaluated their antibacterial efficiency. We used 1, 2, 3, and 4% CNDs with 19% PLA and found increased antibacterial activity with increased concentrations of CNDs. Additionally, we also applied a spunbond-nanofiber layered assembly for the medical face masks and found that with the addition of only 0.45 mg/cm2 on the nonwoven sheet, excellent particle filtration efficiency of 96.5% and a differential pressure of 39 Pa/cm2 were achieved, meeting the basic requirements for Type I medical face masks (ASTM-F2100).
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has hugely affected the textile and apparel industry. Besides the negative impact due to supply chain disruptions, drop in demand, liquidity problems, and overstocking, this pandemic was found to be a window of opportunity since it accelerated the ongoing digitalization trends and the use of functional materials in the textile industry. This review paper covers the development of smart and advanced textiles that emerged as a response to the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2. We extensively cover the advancements in developing smart textiles that enable monitoring and sensing through electrospun nanofibers and nanogenerators. Additionally, we focus on improving medical textiles mainly through enhanced antiviral capabilities, which play a crucial role in pandemic prevention, protection, and control. We summarize the challenges that arise from personal protective equipment (PPE) disposal and finally give an overview of new smart textile-based products that emerged in the markets related to the control and spread reduction of SARS-CoV-2.
ABSTRACT
Background: The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created unprecedented challenges across the globe. In addition to its debilitating impacts on health, the pandemic has also resulted in sudden changes in the quality of life. Our study aims to assess and highlight the alterations in lifestyle, health practices, and perceived anxiety in amongst the Pakistani denizens during the categorical lockdown across the country. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during April 2020 through an online self-administered questionnaire using the snowball sampling technique. The online survey included a diversified set of questions ranging from the demographics, participants' sleeping routine, physical activity, hygiene habits, daily routine, and dietary habits during the quarantine period. It also assessed their anxiety through a series of questions, stretching from their own apprehension of their mental health to their assumption regarding the uncertainty of the future. SPSS v23 was used for data analysis, and chi-square test was applied. Results: A total of 384 respondents were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 21.26 ± 4.267 years. It was observed that 203 (52.9%) individuals spent most of their time in self-isolation on social media, and 167 (43.5%) of participants claimed to be undertaking online classes or watching television. Furthermore, half of the participants noted that their sleep duration had increased 194 (50.5%), along with increased levels of perceived anxiety 242 (63%). Conclusion: The imposed nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 has extensively affected the daily routine of the people living in Pakistan, eliciting profound changes in their sleeping patterns, dietary habits, mental health, and physical activity. Therefore, addressing the issues that arise amidst the lockdown remains pivotal.
ABSTRACT
In recent decades, several viruses have resulted in large outbreaks with serious health, economic and social consequences. The current unprecedented outbreak of the new coronavirus, SARS-COV-2, necessitates intensive efforts for delivering effective therapies to eradicate such a deadly virus. Isatin is an opulent heterocycle that has been proven to provide tremendous opportunities in the area of drug discovery. Over the last fifty years, suitably functionalized isatin has shown remarkable and broad-spectrum antiviral properties. The review herein is an attempt to compile all of the reported information about the antiviral activity of isatin derivatives with an emphasis on their structure-activity relationships (SARs) along with mechanistic and molecular modeling studies. In this regard, we are confident that the review will afford the scientific community a valuable platform to generate more potent and cost-effective antiviral therapies based on isatin templates.
ABSTRACT
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, there is a crucial need for the development of antimicrobial and antiviral personal protective equipment such as facemasks and gowns. Therefore, in this research we fabricated electrospun nanofibers composite with polyvinyl alcohol, aloe vera, and zinc oxide nanoparticles for end application in medical devices. Electrospun nanofibers were made with varying concentrations of aloe vera (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%) having a constant concentration of ZnO (0.5%) with varying concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%) having a constant concentration of aloe vera (0.5%). To check the morphology and composition, all prepared nanofibers were subjected to different characterization techniques, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, its antimicrobial activity was checked both with qualitative and quantitative approaches against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. The results suggest that increasing ZnO concentration kills and inhibits bacterial growth more proficiently compared to increasing aloe vera concentration in electrospun nanofibers; the highest antimicrobial was found with 4% ZnO, killing almost 100% of gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria and 99.2% of gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. These fabricated nanofibers have potential applications in medical devices and would help control the spread of many diseases.
ABSTRACT
In recent decades, several viruses have resulted in large outbreaks with serious health, economic and social consequences. The current unprecedented outbreak of the new coronavirus, SARS-COV-2, necessitates intensive efforts for delivering effective therapies to eradicate such a deadly virus. Isatin is an opulent heterocycle that has been proven to provide tremendous opportunities in the area of drug discovery. Over the last fifty years, suitably functionalized isatin has shown remarkable and broad-spectrum antiviral properties. The review herein is an attempt to compile all of the reported information about the antiviral activity of isatin derivatives with an emphasis on their structure-activity relationships (SARs) along with mechanistic and molecular modeling studies. In this regard, we are confident that the review will afford the scientific community a valuable platform to generate more potent and cost-effective antiviral therapies based on isatin templates.
ABSTRACT
In the present condition of COVID-19, the demand for antimicrobial products such as face masks and surgical gowns has increased. Because of this increasing demand, there is a need to conduct a study on the development of antimicrobial material. Therefore, this study was conducted on the development of Aloe Vera and Polyvinyl Alcohol (AV/PVA) electrospun nanofibers. Four different fibers were developed by varying the concentrations of Aloe vera (0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%, and 3%) while maintaining the concentration of PVA constant. The developed samples were subjected to different characterization techniques such as SEM, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and ICP studies. After that, the antimicrobial activity of the developed Aloe Vera/PVA electrospun nanofibers was checked against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. The developed nanofibers had high profile antibacterial activity against both bacteria, but showed excellent results against S. aureus bacteria as compared with E. coli. These nanofibers have potential applications in the development of surgical gowns, gloves, etc.