Mussel-bionic fiber@ZnO composite membrane for self-cleaning antibacterial mask

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the significance of antibacterial protective materials. Utilizing high-performance antibacterial masks proves to be effective in preventing the spread of respiratory diseases. Herein, we demonstrate a self-cleaning antibacterial mask constructed from the fiber@ZnO composite membrane, utilizing the strong interfacial adhesion of polydopamine (PDA). With a ZnO NPs immersion solution concentration of 1.0 mg/mL, the ZnO NP content in fiber@ZnO reaches 6.5%. The fiber@ZnO demonstrates bactericidal rates exceeding 99% against Gram-positive (<i>S. aureus</i>) and Gram-negative (<i>E. coli</i>) bacteria, and exhibits an inhibition rate exceeding 99.99% against the H1N1 influenza virus. The hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction between ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and PDA can keep a stable combination of NPs and fiber. Antibacterial masks constructed by the fiber@ZnO composite membrane exhibit superior self-cleaning performance and effectively eliminate pathogenic bacteria in aerosols compared with commercial N95 masks. The mussel-bionic strategy presents a viable approach for developing novel antibacterial fibers, with significant application potential in reducing the risk of human infection and preventing the re-transmission of pathogens.