Molnár, K.

Mészáros, L.

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There is no doubt that the filtration efficiency of poly-meric nanofiber mats is excellent (Figure), as theycan adsorb submicronic and nanosized particles(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coco.2019.06.003). For in-stance, the particles of aerosols are in this range(https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20150306.11). Theviruses are typically in the range of 20–200 nm, inwhich classical microfilters are not very efficient, butnanofibrous nonwoven can filter out more than 99%of such particles (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2018.01.002). Face masks play a crucial role in theprotection against respiratory viruses (https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2020.41).When we startedworking on high-throughput nano -fiber spinnerets incooperation withanother departmentfrom our universi-ty, we named oneof our first meth-ods ‘Corona Elec-trospinning’ (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.11.028) because the shape of the spinneret withthe forming fiber jets reminded us of a medievalcrown. Meanwhile, the throughput of the lab-scalespinneret topped 1200 ml/h in AC mode (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.11.028). With an-other related method called ‘High-Speed Electrospin-ning’ (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.01.025),our close colleagues reached over a 1500 ml/hthroughput.At the time, we had no idea that Corona Electrospin-ning could one day be a means of fighting the coro-navirus. We do not see what the future holds, and wedo not even recognize exactly how much trauma theCOVID-19 pandemic is causing in society, but facemasks are expected to become part of our everydaylives for a long time to come. The high-quality maskhas become of extreme value.With the increased throughput, the price of nano -fibers drops, not to mention that only a thin layer isneeded (https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.jcis.2018. 07.021).A single spinneret can produce material for thousandsof masks per day. Several companies are present onthe market with in-dustrial-size nano -fiber productionequipment. Still, sofar, no satisfactoryproduction capaci-ties have been builtworldwide.It is heartwarmingto see that aroundthe world, researchers are putting their machines intobattle, and  make masks for hospitals and the civilianpopulation, which is a vigorous indicator of the co-herence and real power of free and independent sci-entific centers.Will the current crisis bring a breakthrough in build-ing large electrospun nanofiber production capacitiesfor making these advanced masks? The knowledgeand the technology are available.605Editorial corner – a personal viewThe role of electrospun nanofibers in the fight against the COVID-19K. Molnár1,2, L. Mészáros1,2*1Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology andEconomics, H-1111 Budapest, Műegyetem rkp. 3., Hungary2MTA–BME Research Group for Composite Science and Technology, H-1111 Budapest, Műegyetem rkp. 3., HungaryeXPRESS Polymer Letters Vol.14, No.7 (2020) 605Available online at www.expresspolymlett.comhttps://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2020.49*Corresponding author, e-mail: meszaros@pt.bme.hu© BME-PTFiltration performance of a 20 g/m2 spunbond nonwoven (a) and the same textile combined with a 4 g/m2 nanofiber layer (b).

The role of electrospun nanofibers in the fight against the COVID-19

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The role of electrospun nanofibers in the fight against the COVID-19

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