ABSTRACT
In the current outbreak of COVID-19, healthcare facilities are hit by a shortage of supply of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) owing to extensive local and global demands and restrictions on their import or export. To circumvent this, trials with several indigenous materials suitable to qualify for PPEs and sterilization techniques for their reuse are being carried out. Prior to their commercialisation, it is imperative to evaluate the resistance of the PPE fabrics against penetration of synthetic blood under applied pressure, 40-300 mmHg as per test standards. Generally, two types of tests are recommended, Penetration Test and Splash Resistance Test, the former being more stringent. While the final certification of PPEs is carried out by authorised agencies, a first impression quick estimate of the choice of fabric can be made using a simple laboratory set-up. This study describes setups developed in the laboratory to carry out these tests. Evaluation of the fabrics, post-gamma irradiation, was also carried out. Microscopic examinations were performed to investigate radiation-induced structural changes in fabrics showing degraded performance. This set-up is useful for selection of fabrics and to assess the feasibility of reuse of PPEs, which is the need of the hour in this pandemic situation.
ABSTRACT
The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus an emergency of international importance. In this regard, non-woven materials (NM) are recommended to be actively introduced and used to stop the spread of coronavirus in products for various purposes, including medical devices. Synthetic polyester fillers in pillows, blankets, mattresses, insulation in clothes and buildings are nonbiological non-cellular structure. It does not spread bacteria, which, in turn, like living organisms, microorganisms, can be a medium for viral spread. The fibers used in the production of Hollofiber® materials have a hygroscopicity of less than 1%, they do not have a protein component or a plant cell, which can be a nutrient medium for microorganisms and, accordingly, viruses spread through them. However, the issues of viral transfer and virulence remain relevant and problematic. One effective solution is radiation sterilization. The problem is that not all nonwoven materials (NM) are able to withstand exposure to radiation sterilization. In connection with this object of research, a high-tech NM of domestic production was selected. Thus, the study of the effect of radiation sterilization on Hollofiber® material is an urgent task. As a result of studying Hollofayber® NM after radiation in the dose range from 20-60 kGy, there were no significant changes in consumer characteristics. Thus, NM Hollofayber® PROFI, article P 35191, Hollofayber® SOFT, article P 5197, Plollofayber® SOFT, article P 5200 are recommended for the manufacture of medical devices. © 2021 Ivanovo State University of Chemistry and Technology. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
In recent years, members of the Coronaviridae family have caused outbreaks of respiratory diseases (MERS, SARS, and COVID-19). At the same time, the potential of radiation-induced inactivation of this group of viruses have been little studied, although radiation technologies can be widely used both in the processing of personal protective equipment and in the sterilization of vaccines. In the present work, the effect of 10 MeV electron beams and 7.6 MeV bremsstrahlung on the coronavirus infection pathogen (transmissible gastroenteritis virus) has been studied in vitro. In the given experimental conditions, irradiation with photons turned out to be more effective. The virus-containing suspension frozen at -86°C was the most resistant to radiation: the dose required for complete inactivation of the virus in this case was from 15 kGy, while for the liquid suspension and lyophilized form the sterilizing dose was from 10 kGy. At lower radiation doses for all samples during passaging in cell culture, residual infectious activity of the virus was observed. These differences in the efficiency of inactivation of liquid and frozen virus-containing samples indicate a significant contribution of the direct effect of radiation.