Opinion on Effectiveness of Antiviral Personal Protective Equipment and Materials for Air Filtering

Antiviral activity could be addressed using MNs due to their large surface-to-volume ratio, surface charge, size and shape as well as their specific optical, electronic, biological and other functional properties. Furthermore, NM-based approaches are feasible, cost effective, potentially non-toxic, biocompatible and a convenient strategy to deal with various types of viral infections, particularly SARS CoV-2/COVID-19. Important types of MNs include Ag MNs, Au MNs, ZnO MNs, QDs, organic MNs, liposomes, and polymers like dendrimers revealing various types of viral activity, not only for use as an antiviral agent for PPE and FMs, but also for therapeutic use, the specific Questions covered by the report include: 

1. Assessment regarding risks for workers and their employers when using such PPE including how to address them in workplace risk assessment as well as 

2. Risk assessment at all phases of the product life cycle (manufacturing, use in industrial or clinical applications, recycling and disposal) in relation to environmental aspects

3. Guidelines for the use of MN activated PPEs and FM.