The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in demand for effective face masks to prevent virus transmission. Face masks serve as protective barriers, reducing the spread of infectious aerosols between individuals.
This has accelerated global research and development efforts focused on mask technologies. Traditional masks, such as surgical masks and R95 respirators, often involve a trade-off between breathability and filtration efficiency.
Electrospun nanofiber membrane–based face masks have gained significant attention due to their nanoscale pores, lightweight design, and high filtration efficiency, making them commercially viable and widely adopted.
The integration of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and graphene has further enabled the development of advanced, multifunctional, reusable filtration membranes with higher adsorption capacity. Unlike these existing approaches, this study introduces a novel antiviral face mask that uniquely combines cellulose acetate nanofibers with hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) essential oil, a herbal additive that has not previously been explored in electrospun mask design.
The nanofibers, produced via electrospinning, exhibit diameters ranging from 35 to 75 nm, significantly enhancing their ability to capture small particles, including viruses, compared with conventional masks.
The incorporation of hyssop essential oil not only provides natural antiviral and antibacterial functionality but also differentiates this mask from other herbal oil–based or graphene/MOF-enhanced membranes. Experimental testing demonstrated substantial antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
Moreover, the dual advantage of superior PM2.5 filtration efficiency (99.6%) and improved breathability over R95 masks highlights the practical benefits of this design.
This dual-function mask offers a promising solution for both air pollution control and COVID-19 prevention by combining advanced filtration with active pathogen inactivation.