A team of researchers from China were able to develop a face mask that can detect COVID-19 as well as bird flu and swine flu. According to the research published in the scientific journal Matter, the wearer receives a warning via phone app when it detects a virus.
High-Tech Face Mask Features
Based on the report, the mask can spot the virus in as fast as 10 minutes. The effectiveness of the mask was proven after it was tested in an enclosed chamber by spraying liquid containing virus proteins onto the face covering.
With just 0.3 microlitres of the liquid, the sensor was able to detect the virus. The amount of liquid detected was between 70 and 560 times less than the amount of liquid produced by one sneeze.
Dr Yin Fang of Shanghai Tongji University, who led the study, said the previous research has shown that the risk of spreading and contracting the disease is reduced by wearing a face mask.
Fang said that they wanted to create a mask that can detect the presence of virus in the air and has the ability to alert the wearer. In areas with limited ventilation, such as elevators or enclosed rooms, the risk of infection is greater.
The expert claimed that, if a new respiratory virus were to appear in the future, it would be simple to change the sensor's architecture to handle it. The team's current goals are to speed up disease detection using the mask and develop it so that it is wearable.
Feedback from Fellow Scientist
Marilyn Cruickshank, an expert in infection prevention at the University of Technology Sydney, called the study a promising first step. However, she said that how it is implemented will determine if it is successful.
She said that people must wear them and be aware of what to do if they become exposed. If a person gets a result, there must be a comprehensive mechanism behind what occurs. She pointed out that simply realizing that you've inhaled it is only the first step.
Similar Technology Used in Previous Face Mask Study
In one study published in Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies, the focus of the researchers was to detect whether a face mask is properly fitted around the wearer's mouth after wearing it for a long period of time.
In order to detect it, Northwestern University engineers were able to put biosensors in an N95 mask. This was achieved through a small electronic module packed with sensors that are attached to the inside of a standard medical-grade mask. It uses motion sensors to detect when a mask has been bumped and then alerts the user.
Researchers at a Harvard laboratory employed a similar approach where biosensors were put into N95 masks to develop an integrated COVID-19 test. They reported in 2021 that a button-activated mask provides results in 90 minutes with accuracies comparable to those of conventional nucleic acid-based diagnostic tests like polymerase chain reactions (PCR).
The researchers claim that the test will identify the user as having COVID-19 if the SARS-CoV-2 virus is present in the accumulated breath droplets on the inside of the mask's surface. The research was published in Nature Biotechnology.
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