Researchers from Spain’s IMDEA Materials Institute have created a new spray coating to improve the antiviral efficacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) — specifically, face masks.

The researchers selected graphene oxide (GO) — with its antiviral properties and ability to render viruses non-infectious while prohibiting viral replication and propagation — to develop the new coating for biodegradable face masks.

EDS mapping of the GO-coated sample shows the electron image. Source IMDEA Materials Institute

According to the researchers, the GO spray coating did not negatively impact the structural integrity or the air permeability of the PPE textiles during testing.

"The pores of the fabric that we have used for these masks are also smaller than the size of the viral droplets. That means they prevent these droplets from being inhaled by the wearer, while the breathability of the mask is unaffected," the researchers explained.