Bio-protective composite materials, method of manufacturing the bio-protective composite materials, and face mask having the bio-protective composite materials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current face masks lack direct sterilization and inactivation capabilities against viruses and bacteria, and existing antibacterial and antiviral materials face issues with stability, solubility, and potential toxicity, while also facing challenges with drug resistance and limited effectiveness due to viral mutations.

Innovation Solution

A bioprotective composite material is developed, comprising a fiber network support with a seed layer and pyroelectric nanostructures that generate a pyro-potential through temperature changes, promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production for enhanced antibacterial and antiviral activities without external power, integrated into a face mask for improved performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metal nanoparticles are used for sterilization, then antibacterial and antiviral properties are improved, but uncontrollable aggregation occurs and human toxicity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization propertyVSAvoidhuman toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses organic peptide substances (chitosan, nisin) as intermediary materials that mediate between the need for sterilization and the concern for human toxicity. These peptides provide antibacterial and antiviral properties through natural mechanisms (binding to cell walls, causing oxidative damage) without the aggregation and toxicity issues of metal nanoparticles, thus resolving the contradiction between effective sterilization and human safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from inorganic metal nanoparticles to organic peptide substances, fundamentally altering the chemical composition and mechanism of action. This parameter change enables sterilization through biocompatible organic mechanisms rather than inorganic nanoparticle mechanisms, thereby maintaining efficacy while eliminating toxicity concerns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If organic peptide substances are used for sterilization, then bactericidal capability is improved, but stability and solubility in biological fluid decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebactericidal capabilityVSAvoidstability in biological fluid

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates composite materials by combining organic peptide substances with other materials (such as incorporating peptides into mask fabrics or combining with stabilizing agents). This composite approach maintains the superior bactericidal capability of organic peptides while providing structural support and enhanced stability in biological environments, thus resolving the contradiction between high efficacy and environmental stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Power

If thermoelectric material is used for energy conversion, then thermal energy to electricity conversion is improved, but usefulness decreases in spatially uniform temperature environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy conversion efficiencyVSAvoidapplicability in uniform temperature environment

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the approach by using pyroelectric materials that generate electricity from temperature changes rather than thermoelectric materials that require temperature gradients. This inversion enables energy harvesting in uniform temperature environments by capturing the electrical signal from natural body temperature fluctuations during breathing, thereby resolving the contradiction between conversion efficiency and environmental adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The bioprotective composite material effectively generates ROS to enhance antibacterial and antiviral activities by leveraging temperature changes from breathing, improving polarization and pyroelectric performance, thus providing significant protection against pathogens without external power sources.

Implementation Method 1

pyroelectric nanostructures protruding from the seed layer and generating an instantaneous pyro-potential by a temperature change

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPyroelectric effect: Pyroelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20230357990A1Bio-protective composite materials, method of manufacturing the bio-protective composite materials, and face mask having the bio-protective composite materials

Publication Date: 2023.11.09 IND ACADEMIC COOP FOUND YONSEI UNIV

AI summary

Disclosed is a bioprotective composite material. The bioprotective composite material includes a fiber network support, a seed layer for covering a surface of the fiber network support, and pyroelectric nanostructures protruding from the seed layer. Such bioprotective composite material generates a pyro-potential by a temperature change, and thus, has improved antibacterial and antiviral activities.