Polyphenols as antiviral agents onto NWF of face masks: a proof of concept

The pandemic situation caused by the SARS CoV2 that we are still experiencing has highlighted that the use of disposable face masks can effectively mitigate the spreading of respiratory virus. At the same ime, several works recently published, raised some doubts about the real effectiveness of these devices in filtering SARS CoV2 during coughs by infected patients. The mask is often worn incorrectly and frequently touched, increasing the risk of contamination of the user‘s hands and of surfaces. In this scenario, we thought to use polyphenolic compounds, which are characterized by well-known antiviral properties, as coating agents of the external surface of surgical masks. Indeed, their application onto the non-woven fabric (NWF) of masks could limit the infection circulation, by reducing the cross-contamination of patients and health care workers. In this context, our work aimed at improving the barrier effect of disposable face masks by depositing on their external surface a mixture of bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols, extracted from agronomical sources.