Rapid Decontamination System of PPE and Medical Equipment for Reuse using Flexible Non-thermal Plasma Generator

使用柔性非热等离子发生器对个人防护装备和医疗设备进行快速净化系统以供重复使用

• 批准号: EP/V051679/1
• 负责人: Min Kwan Kim
• 金额: $ 33.1万
• 依托单位: University of Southampton
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FV051679%2F1
• 关键词: Rapid; Decontamination; System; PPE; Medical

This project aims to develop a method and procedure for decontaminating mask/respirators using non-thermal plasma for safely reuse. As a respirator is a basic personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect frontline healthcare workers against COVID-19, the chronic, global shortage of N95/N99 masks is one of the most urgent threats to our collective ability to save lives from the coronavirus. The reuse of masks may need to be considered as a crisis capacity strategy to ensure continued availability, even though most of the masks are considered one-time use. Moreover, a single-use mask is adding to the glut of plastic pollution threatening the health of oceans and marine life, environmentalists warn.In this project, we are developing a rapid and safe dry decontamination method through adapting the state-of-art plasma technologies and printed electronics. The proposing approach will use the viricidal capability of non-thermal plasmas to decontaminate masks without using biocidal chemicals and remaining any chemical residues. The project will ensure the safe reuse of masks with maintaining structural and functional integrity with the biological and material assessments.Specific objectives of the project include (1) preparing and validating coronavirus samples; (2) developing a plasma decontamination system; (3) quantifying concentration and distribution of biological samples before and after plasma treatment; (4) measuring the effect of plasma treatment on mask performance; (5) quantifying viral inactivation efficiency; and (6) collating and interpreting results to assess the efficacy, promise, and potential implementation pathway for the concept. Through opening up re-use of masks, this project will provide a new solution for current PPE shortage for acute global mask shortage and minimise plastic pollution.

该项目旨在开发一种使用非热等离子体对面罩/呼吸器进行消毒以安全重复使用的方法和程序。由于呼吸器是保护一线医护人员免受 COVID-19 侵害的基本个人防护装备 (PPE)，因此全球 N95/N99 口罩的长期短缺是对我们拯救冠状病毒生命的集体能力的最紧迫威胁之一。口罩的重复使用可能需要被视为一种危机应对策略，以确保持续可用，尽管大多数口罩被认为是一次性使用。此外，环保人士警告说，一次性口罩正在加剧塑料污染的过剩，威胁海洋和海洋生物的健康。在这个项目中，我们正在通过采用最先进的等离子技术来开发一种快速、安全的干式净化方法。技术和印刷电子产品。拟议的方法将利用非热等离子体的杀病毒能力来净化口罩，而不使用杀菌化学品，也不留下任何化学残留物。该项目将通过生物学和材料评估确保口罩的安全重复使用，并保持结构和功能的完整性。该项目的具体目标包括（1）准备和验证冠状病毒样本； (2)开发等离子体净化系统； (3)量化等离子体处理前后生物样品的浓度和分布； (4)测量等离子体处理对掩模性能的影响； (5)量化病毒灭活效率； (6) 整理和解释结果，以评估该概念的功效、前景和潜在实施途径。通过开放口罩的重复使用，该项目将为当前全球口罩严重短缺的个人防护装备短缺问题提供新的解决方案，并最大限度地减少塑料污染。