The next generation face masks will surprise you

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The next generation of accessories will detect the coronavirus, alert to incorrect use, and do much more. After the disposable surgical, cloth and PFF2 types, masks 2.0 are coming.

“In addition to more durable fabrics and the investment in filtering capacity, they will come with biosensors, nanotechnology, and even artificial intelligence,” points out Guilherme Hummel, scientific coordinator of Hospitalar, one of the health sector’s main events in Brazil.

These devices can provide users with important information. “They have sensors that alert to exposed areas and recommend the best fit for the face,” Hummel says.

Novelties of this type were presented in the first digital day organized by Hospitalar and should reach the Brazilian market still this year.

For now, it is a good idea to use PFF2 masks in closed places, which have a greater filtering capacity.

What they will do

Here are the main advances in development:

Neutralize the virus and self-sterilization

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, are working on several models, including a self-cleaning mask, which uses heat to sterilize the accessory.

Becoming transparent

MIT and other centers have already presented transparent prototypes, with disposable N95-type filters (same as the PFF2) and silicone coating. The aim is to ease communication.

No fogging

Scientists at Arizona State University, also in the USA, have created a product that isolates and better distributes the air exhaled through the nose so that it does not affect eyewear.

Detecting the pathogen

There are several prototypes being tested. One contains a powdered substance embedded in the fabric that reacts to the virus; another has an adhesive that changes color when it detects an enzyme on exhalation.

The race for masks

To encourage researchers, international organizations are promoting competitions with cash prizes. The U.S. government recently announced that it will award US$500,000 to the creator of a prototype that solves frequent complaints such as discomfort, fogged up eyeglasses, and difficulty understanding other people’s words.

Source: Saúde Abril