Preparation of Photoactive Antibacterial Polylactic Acid Fibrous Membranes for Facemask Applications

Aimed at the development of reusable, biodegradable, and biocidal materials for the next generation of facemasks and respirators, an edible photosensitizer of vitamin K3 (VK3) was successfully mixed with polylactic acid (PLA) in solutions and electrospun into fibrous membranes to prove the technical feasibility of producing photoinduced antibacterial and biodegradable fibrous materials. The resulting PLA-VK3 fibrous membranes were directly collected or deposited onto a PLA spun-bond nonwoven fabric, simulating a filtering nonwoven structure. The morphologies, mechanical, filtration, photoactive, and antimicrobial functions of the fibrous membranes were assessed. The developed materials revealed promising results of desired filtering efficiency against small particles with a low-pressure drop, efficient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and antibacterial functions under daylight exposure, as well as proper mechanical properties.