LAUSR

The filtering facepiece operates through filtration without the ability to kill the viruses. If the filtration might be combined with antiviral agents simultaneously in the masks, this would be much more efficient not only during the use of these masks but also against cross-infection after being discarded. For centuries it is well known that sodium chloride (NaCl) contributes to inhibit pathogens on various occasions. If aerosol with infectious agents reaches the surface of the filtering facepiece, coated with hypertonic saline, they become attracted by hygroscopic salt crystals. Proteins and nucleic acids lose their structural integrity and become inactivated concerning their infectious properties. We provide further evidence for cell growth inhibition with hypertonic saline in yeast cells comprising a defending cell wall. Proliferation was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner, i.e. above 50g/L, yeast cell proliferation was completely blocked. At a NaCl concentration of 100g/L, even decomposition of the original inoculated organisms was observed. Therefore, we conclude that hypertonic saline coated filtering facepiece might strongly reduce the numbers of infectious particles on their surfaces and thus protect mask carriers efficiently from infections.