Washable Innovative Nano-Masks to help overcome coronavirus situation in Thailand
This Washable Innovative Nano-Masks campaign or WIN-Masks was developed with strategic cooperation between Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS). The campaign is also supported by our alliances such as Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna and Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology. This WIN-Masks research is powered by funding from National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).
Firstly, the WIN-Masks project initiated from a scenario prediction and planning by Siriraj Hospital when the first phase of COVID-19 occurred in China since January. In the worst-case scenario, Siriraj Hospital has identified that medical masks. Being the most important tool for medical personnel as the first line of defense when dealing with COVID-19 patients, Thailand will face a shortage as the pandemic drags on. Also, the import of both mask products and raw materials will be difficult since it is a worldwide pandemic and supply is overstretched by demand. This pressing situation will evolve to be an imminent problem to the entirety of Thailand public health system. Henceforth, Siriraj Hospital and all health-related organizations came together to think about preventive measures to deal with this pandemic with utmost urgency.
There are only about 2 million pieces of surgical masks available to 20 university hospitals, not including other hospitals listed by the Ministry of Public Health. The usage of these masks is poised to surge as medical personnel face an increase in COVID-19 cases. Taking into consideration of the needs of other government departments and the public at large, relying on domestic manufacturer’s production is certainly insufficient and the increased use of masks by medical personnel will result in a shortage.
The minimum standard of masks to be used by all hospital medical personnel dealing with the COVID-19 cases is the N95 mask. Siriraj Hospital usually uses 3,000 pieces of N95 masks per month during non-outbreak periods, however, the hospital has predicted that there will be at least 2 to 3 times increase in mask usage during this COVID-19 pandemic situation.
After consulting with relevant departments and stakeholders, Siriraj Hospital found many already existing researches that proves effective for the identified problem, for example:
1.The mask development for PM 2.5 dust prevention, which is another ongoing problem that occurs in Thailand by Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS) and Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna
2.The nano dust-mite fabric development by The Siriraj Dust Mite Center for Services and Research
Therefore, the different organizations partnered and advanced those researches to develop further and identified necessary properties of a washable mask. After which, they have specified 5 key properties as follow:
1. Particle filtration efficiency (PFE): Must be able to prevent and filter 5-micron particles dust
2. Fluid resistance: Must be able to prevent the permeability of phlegm aerosol or liquid secretions from the external surrounding of the wearer and also from the wearer’s sputum to the external surrounding
3. Firmness of the mask (Fit test): Must be able to be worn comfortably on the face and prevent air from entering through the sides of the mask
4. Good air permeability (Permeability Test): Must allow good ventilation and does not cause difficulty in breathing to the wearer
5. Washable: Must be able to be washed repeatedly without losing the 4 properties mentioned above for at least 30 times
Currently, the product has been invented and tested for efficiency in the laboratory. The tested product was able to meet all the specification. They found that the protection against both virus and PM2.5 dust is better for the newly invented WIN-mask than ordinary surgical mask but is still inferior in some minor aspect to the N95 type mask.
The WIN-Mask has 3 layers, consisting of
1. Siriraj dust-tight woven type fabric with Nano waterproof coating
2. Microfiber-ZnO fabric with antibacterial property
3. Cotton fabric that can absorb water from sneezing and cough
When combining the properties of the 3 layers of fabric, they will be able to filter all dust from small sputum at the level of 2.5-5 microns. They will continue to develop the WIN-Mask further and improve the mask to be able to filter 0.3-micron virus, which will be closer to the effectiveness of the N95 type mask properties.
For its washable property, WIN-Masks can be washed and reused more than 30 times without losing any basic qualities of dust and virus filtering when users follow the official instructions. The testing results also showed that the efficiency of the mask will increase about 2% from every 5 times of washing.
All the properties above have concluded that WIN-Masks has met the medical equipment’s standard and can be used for medical purposes. It can definitely also be effectively used by the general public too.
The WIN-Masks will be produced at a qualified factory that has been given the standard certificate by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The WIN-Masks will also be sterilized by Gamma radiation by the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) at the last stage of production before the product is released to the wearer. Therefore, users can be assured on the safety and cleanliness of the production of WIN-Masks even though production of WIN-Masks is more complicated than the normal mask production, especially for the sewing process since it is a fabric-made product. Because of non-regulations for a standardized sterilization process, most of the masks in the market are only sterilized by UV radiation.1.First phase, Production capital for the first phase has already been received from related organization such as National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). They will be produced and delivered under sterile conditions. 3 weeks from now, about 7,000 pieces will be produced and distributed to the major healthcare centers that have been identified as the critical outposts dealing with this pandemic situation.
Lastly, the distribution processwill be divided into 3 phases:
1. First phase
Production capital for the first phase has already been received from related organization such as National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). They will be produced and delivered under sterile conditions. 3 weeks from now, about 7,000 pieces will be produced and distributed to the major healthcare centers that have been identified as the critical outposts dealing with this pandemic situation.
2.Second phase (current)
Sinwattana donation Crowdfunding model will be assisting in the fundraising effort for the second phase whereby the Thai population can donate and help fund the second phase of this fight on COVID-19 in Thailand. Upon success of the fundraising effort, the target production is 100,000 pieces within the next 1-2 months. Thereafter, the masks will be delivered to people who needs it the most according to the priority assessment on this pandemic situation.
3.Final phrase
there will be mass production providing accord to social demand from general publicity by pre-ordering with Sinwattana Rewards crowdfunding model.
In Conclusion,
the success of this upcoming plan depends on the production capacity of the factory that meets the stated standards and the results of the fundraising process from the masses on every phrase. We appeal to all Thais to support this effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help Thailand overcome this tough and testing pandemic outbreak.
Every donation may help save a LIFE
https://social.sinwattana.com/viewCampaign/SEI9IB97GNI803#Story
