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SHORT COMMUNICATION

3D Printed and Electrospun, Transparent, Hierarchical

Polylactic Acid Mask Nanoporous Filter

Haijun He , Min Gao , Balázs Illés , Kolos Molnar *
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3
1,4,
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1 Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics,
Műegyetem rkp. 3-9, H-1111, Budapest, Hungary
2 Department of Mechatronics, Optics and Engineering Informatics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University
of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3-9, H-1111, Budapest, Hungary
3 Department of Electronics Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Budapest University of Technology
and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3-9, H-1111, Budapest, Hungary
4 MTA–BME Research Group for Composite Science and Technology, Műegyetem rkp. 3, H-1111, Budapest, Hungary

Abstract: Face masks are becoming one of the most useful personal protective equipment with the outbreak of the coronavirus
(CoV) pandemic. The entire world is experiencing shortage of disposable masks and melt-blown non-woven fabrics, which is
the raw material of the mask filter. Recyclability of the discarded mask is also becoming a big challenge for the environment.
Here, we introduce a facile method based on electrospinning and three-dimensional printing to make changeable and
biodegradable mask filters. We printed polylactic acid (PLA) polymer struts on a PLA nanofiber web to fabricate a nanoporous
filter with a hierarchical structure and transparent look. The transparent look overcomes the threatening appearance of the
masks that can be a feasible way of reducing the social trauma caused by the current CoV disease-19 pandemic. In this study,
we investigated the effects of nozzle temperature on the optical, mechanical, and morphological and filtration properties of
the nanoporous filter.
Keywords: Coronavirus disease-19, Electrospinning, Mask nanoporous filter, Nanofibers, Three-dimensional printing

*Corresponding Author: Kolos Molnar, Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of
Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3-9, H-1111, Budapest, Hungary; molnar@pt.bme.hu
Received: April 19, 2020; Accepted: May 18, 2020; Published Online: July 1, 2020

(This article belongs to the Special Section: Research and Applications of 3D Printing and Bioprinting for Covid-19)
Citation: He H, Gao M, Illés B, et al., 3D Printed and Electrospun, Transparent, Hierarchical Polylactic Acid Mask Nanoporous
Filter, Int J Bioprint, 6(4): 278. DOI: 10.18063/ijb.v6i4.278.

1 Introduction to 140 nm , which poses a threat to global public
[2]
health. One of the latest studies has indicated
There are various biological aerosol particles in that surgical masks can prevent transmission of
the outdoor air, including viruses, bacterial cells, human CoVs from symptomatic individuals .
[3]
bacterial and fungal spores, fragments, and pollen Therefore, it is essential and practical to wear
grains which may cause health issues, especially personal protective equipment (e.g., face masks
infectious diseases . These particles of small sizes and respirators) during the outbreak period . In
[1]
[4]
can easily penetrate the human respiratory system general, good quality face masks are comprised
and cause flu, colds, pneumonia, and others. of 3-4 textile layers. Melt-blown PP microfibers
For example, the diameter of the 2019-novel are widely used as the filter layer to capture the
coronavirus (nCoV) particles varies from about 60 particles. However, to fulfill the requirement of

© 2020 He, et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original
work is properly cited.
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