A biodegradable medical mask and a method for preparing the same

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of biodegradable medical mask and its preparation method, using gelatin as main raw material to prepare the filter core of mask instead of melt-blown cloth, to prepare biodegradable medical mask.The intermediate layer of the medical mask is gelatin-based nanofiber membrane, wherein the support layer is located on both sides of the intermediate layer, which is a napkin made of natural materials, with porous structure.The biodegradable medical mask of the present application has the following advantages: (1) biodegradable, environmental protection, and the materials used are all natural materials; (2) electrostatic spinning is used to give the gelatin fiber membrane static electricity, not only providing the ability to block viruses, but also improving the ability to ventilate; (3) gelatin is a protein, non-toxic and safe, and because its raw material is derived from food processing by-products, it is low in price; (4) gelatin elastomer is prepared as a mask belt, solving the problem of non-degradable mask belt at present; (5) the outer layer is a degradable cellulose porous napkin, realizing the characteristics of pure natural materials of the mask, and facilitating use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of medical materials, specifically relating to a biodegradable medical mask and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, under the influence of the novel coronavirus, 130 billion disposable masks are used and discarded globally every month. Traditional disposable medical masks are made of synthetic polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyester, which are not easily degraded, putting enormous pressure on the environment and becoming a pressing issue. Therefore, developing biodegradable disposable masks is of great significance, as it can not only protect people's health but also protect the environment.

[0003] Gelatin is a large protein molecule obtained from the degradation of collagen in animal connective tissue. Its raw materials mainly include animal bones and hides, and it is a byproduct of food processing. Therefore, it possesses excellent physicochemical properties, nutritional functions, and biocompatibility, making it widely used in food, medicine, and cosmetics. Because gelatin is a protein, it can be degraded by bacteria and proteases. Electrospinning technology can prepare nanofiber nonwoven fabrics using a high-voltage electric field, and it has been applied to the research and development of novel filter materials. Medical masks utilize interwoven nanofibers in the fabric to create small pores, which not only allow for breathability and facilitate respiration but also block viruses. In particular, electrospinning imparts static electricity to the mask, further enhancing its ability to block viruses and bacteria, thereby improving filtration efficiency and ensuring breathability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems in existing technologies, this invention provides a biodegradable medical mask and its preparation method. The mask uses gelatin as the main raw material to prepare the filter core instead of meltblown fabric, thus producing a biodegradable medical mask. The resulting mask has the following advantages: (1) it is biodegradable, protecting the environment; (2) electrostatic spinning imparts static electricity to the membrane, providing not only the ability to block viruses but also improving breathability; (3) gelatin is a non-toxic and safe protein, and because its raw material comes from food processing byproducts, it is inexpensive; (4) a gelatin elastomer is prepared as the mask strap, solving the problem of non-degradable mask straps; (5) the outer layer is a biodegradable cellulose porous napkin paper, realizing the characteristics of a pure natural material for the mask, making it convenient to use. The successful development of this mask contributes to environmental protection.

[0005] To achieve the purpose of the invention, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a biodegradable medical mask, wherein the middle layer of the medical mask is a gelatin-based nanofiber membrane, and the support layer is located on both sides of the middle layer.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support layer is selected from any one of biodegradable porous napkins made from natural macromolecules; more preferably, it is biodegradable cellulose porous napkins.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gelatin-based nanofiber membrane is prepared by electrospinning; the thickness of the gelatin-based nanofiber membrane is 0.01-0.05 mm.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the prepared gelatin elastomer is used as a mask strap. This method effectively solves the problem of non-degradability of mask straps in the prior art.

[0009] This invention also protects a method for preparing the biodegradable medical mask, comprising the following steps:

[0010] (1) Prepare a gelatin solution with a concentration of 10-20 wt% by preparing the raw gelatin;

[0011] (2) Add antibacterial agent and spinning solvent to the glue solution to prepare gelatin-based electrospinning solution;

[0012] (3) Spin the gelatin-based electrospinning solution obtained in step (2) to obtain a gelatin-based nanofiber membrane;

[0013] (4) A biodegradable medical mask is made by using a support layer as the outer layer, a gelatin-based nanofiber membrane as the inner layer, and gelatin as the adhesive.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step (1), the raw material gelatin is selected from gelatin with a gel strength of 150-260 Bloom g; in step (1), it is heated and dissolved in a constant temperature water bath at 60°C to prepare a 10-20 wt% gelatin solution.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step (2), the antibacterial agent is selected from cerium nitrate, and the spinning solvent is selected from carbiol; more preferably, the mass ratio of water to carbiol is 0.4, and the amount of cerium salt added is 0.86 wt%.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0017] (1) Traditional disposable medical masks use synthetic polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyester as raw materials, which are not easily degraded and put great pressure on the environment. Gelatin is a large molecular protein obtained by degrading collagen in animal connective tissue to a certain extent. Using gelatin as the main raw material to prepare the filter core of the mask to replace meltblown cloth, a biodegradable mask can be developed, contributing to environmental protection.

[0018] (2) The gelatin-based nanofiber membrane in this invention is prepared by electrospinning. Electrospinning imparts static electricity to the membrane, which is more conducive to blocking viruses and bacteria, thereby improving the filtration efficiency of the mask and ensuring the breathability of the mask. Gelatin is a non-toxic and safe protein, and its raw material is derived from food processing by-products, so it is inexpensive.

[0019] (3) This invention uses gelatin as a raw material to prepare a novel biodegradable disposable mask and explores its preparation process conditions. High-performance fibers can be spun when the mass ratio of water to carbamide is 0.4 and the amount of cerium salt added is 0.86 wt%. The filtration efficiency and breathing resistance of the mask were determined using a mask filtration performance tester. The inner layer nanofibers were observed using a scanning electron microscope. The antibacterial effect of the gelatin membrane on Escherichia coli was determined using the inhibition zone method. The biodegradability of the mask was tested by placing it in water containing neutral protease. When the thickness of the gelatin electrospun membrane in the developed mask is 0.038 mm, its filtration efficiency can reach up to 97.8%, and the resistance is only 39.8 Pa, fully meeting the standard requirements, making it a high-performance mask. The developed mask was completely degraded in about 20 minutes after stirring at room temperature, indicating high biodegradability. This provides a new idea for the development of novel biodegradable masks, develops new uses for gelatin, and can bring good environmental benefits. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are only for illustrative purposes and do not limit the scope of the invention.

[0021] Figure 1 SEM images (a, b) of the gelatin-based electrospun fiber membrane prepared in Example 1.

[0022] Figure 2 The images show the inhibitory effect of the gelatin-based biodegradable mask prepared in Example 1 on Escherichia coli (left) and the mask itself (right). Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of this invention clearer, the invention is described with reference to the following specific embodiments, but the invention is by no means limited to these examples.

[0024] Example 1

[0025] Weigh 3 grams of gelatin, add 17 grams of water, and allow it to swell at room temperature for 1 hour. Then, heat and dissolve it in a constant temperature water bath at 60°C to prepare a 30 wt% gelatin solution. Add 0.86% cerium nitrate to the gelatin solution. The mass ratio of added carbiol to water is 0.4 to prepare a gelatin-based electrospinning solution. Subsequently, spin the solution using an electrospinning machine. After a certain period of time, an electrospun nanofiber membrane with an average thickness of 0.038 mm is obtained. Select two embossed napkins as the outer layer material, the inner layer as the gelatin-based nanofiber membrane, and use gelatin as an adhesive to make a mask.

[0026] The filtration efficiency and breathing resistance of the masks were determined using a mask filtration performance tester, and the test results are shown in Table 1. The inner layer nanofibers were measured using a scanning electron microscope. Figure 1 The gelatin-based electrospun membrane has uniformly thick filaments with a clear pore distribution between the interlacing fibers, which will improve breathability. Because gelatin is a degradation product of natural macromolecular collagen, its molecular structure is fibrous, which facilitates fiber formation. Furthermore, because gelatin contains many active groups, it readily combines with cerium ions to form cross-links, increasing fiber strength. Simultaneously, because the membrane is obtained through electrospinning, static electricity is observed retained on the gelatin fibers during experiments, resulting in high filtration performance. This is beneficial for filtering viruses, preventing them from entering the body and ensuring everyone's health. The diameter of the gelatin fibers is approximately between 100-200 nm. The resulting mask... Figure 2 As shown. In addition, the antibacterial ability of the mask was tested using the inhibition zone method. A 10mm diameter membrane was used to examine its antibacterial effect against *E. coli*. The gelatin-based biodegradable mask showed some inhibitory effect on *E. coli*. Although no obvious inhibition zone appeared, no *E. coli* growth was observed on the membrane, indicating that the addition of cerium salt in the mask played a certain role in preventing bacterial growth. The mask was completely degraded in approximately 20 minutes after being placed in water containing neutral protease and stirred at room temperature.

[0027] Table 1 Performance test results of gelatin-based electrospun film with embossed napkin paper as carrier

[0028]

[0029] Example 2

[0030] Weigh 3 grams of gelatin, add 17 grams of water, and allow it to swell at room temperature for 1 hour. Then, heat and dissolve it in a constant temperature water bath at 60°C to prepare a 30 wt% gelatin solution. Add 0.86% cerium nitrate to the gelatin solution. The mass ratio of added carbiol to water is 1, preparing a gelatin-based electrospinning solution. Then, spin the solution using an electrospinning machine. After a certain time, an electrospun nanofiber membrane with an average thickness of 0.017 mm is obtained. Select two embossed napkins as the outer layer material, the inner layer as the gelatin-based nanofiber membrane, and use gelatin as an adhesive to make a mask. The filtration efficiency and breathing resistance of the mask are measured using a mask filtration performance tester. The test results are shown in Table 2.

[0031] Table 2 Performance test results of gelatin-based electrospun film with embossed napkin paper as carrier

[0032]

[0033] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and these equivalent modifications or substitutions are all included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a medical mask, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Prepare a gelatin solution with a concentration of 10-20 wt% by preparing the raw gelatin; (2) Add antibacterial agent and spinning solvent to the glue solution to prepare gelatin-based electrospinning solution; (3) Spin the gelatin-based electrospinning solution obtained in step (2) to obtain a gelatin-based nanofiber membrane; (4) Using a support layer as the outer layer, a gelatin-based nanofiber membrane as the inner layer, and gelatin as the adhesive, a biodegradable medical mask is made. In step (1), the raw material gelatin is selected from gelatin with a gel strength of 150-260 Bloom g; it is heated and dissolved in a constant temperature water bath at 60°C to prepare a 10-20 wt% gelatin solution; in step (2), the antibacterial agent is selected from cerium nitrate, and the spinning aid solvent is selected from carbide alcohol or trifluoroethanol; the mass ratio of water to spinning aid is 0.4, and the amount of cerium salt added is 0.86 wt%; the thickness of the gelatin-based nanofiber membrane is 0.038 mm.

2. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The middle layer of the medical mask is a gelatin-based nanofiber membrane, with support layers located on both sides of the middle layer.

3. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support layer is selected from any one of biodegradable porous napkins made from natural macromolecules.

4. The preparation method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The support layer is a biodegradable porous cellulose napkin.

5. The medical mask prepared by the preparation method according to any one of claims 1-4.

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