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8 March, 2021
Marisa de la Rica: «Accompanying you at the end of life makes you mature and feel privileged»
8 March, 2021Graduated in Industrial Design Engineering and PhD student in Biomedical Engineering and Medicine. She has created a mask to stop covid.
The damn coronavirus is also attacked through prevention. Marta Baselga, a researcher at the Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), directs a project to stop the advance of covid by coating masks with silver nanoparticles and another viricidal agent.
We will start by talking about the mask that an expert like you is wearing.
I am currently wearing a surgical mask. I choose the mask based on where I am going to be. Today I will spend most of my time outdoors. I alternate it with the FFP2 if I enter closed spaces.
It's a world of masks...
There are numerous types of masks, although only three are approved: hygienic, surgical and FFP2 or 3. This classification is European, in the United States they have another name.
You have studied them thoroughly.
I try. Hygienic matters do not fall into my field of study; the surgical ones and the FFP, yes.
Why are FFP masks called selfish?
They refer to FFPs with an exhalation valve. The valve serves to increase the user's comfort through the release of the air already breathed, carbon dioxide (CO2). Yes, it filters for the wearer, but it allows the breathed air to pass through. With surgeries, in addition to protecting yourself, you protect others.
Protect others too, that's good.
It is protected from transmission by droplets, not aerosols. To avoid contagion by aerosols, filtering is required.
And now you arrive with a saving cape.
I am accompanied by Manuel Arruebo and Víctor Sebastián, scientists from the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon (INMA), a joint center of the University and the CSIC.
What is the idea of stopping covid based on?
As the use of surgical masks is widespread, and they are comfortable and low-cost, we have tried to increase their safety. We do this through the inactivation of viruses: the mask is coated with silver nanoparticles (Ag Nps).
Nano scale. That deserves an explanation.
A millimeter is a million nanometers. The silver particles in the mask measure 10 nanometers, and the covid virus is around 120.
There's a reason they call the coronavirus the invisible enemy...
That's how it is. In addition to the layer of silver nanoparticles, there is another viricidal agent in the mask.
Viricidal: that kills viruses.
Or it inactivates them.
What is the other viricidal agent?
It's a secret ingredient.
Like Coca-Cola...
Said like this (smiles). This viricide is the so-called ligand agent.
Flirting?
Yes, it binds nanoparticles, polypropylene fibers, it binds everything...
This agent is a phenomenon!
Of course. As the silver and the agent are viricidal, the effectiveness against the virus increases.
How effective is it?
Its inactivation efficiency is very high, greater than 99 percent. This mask that I have in my hand inactivates the covid-19 coronavirus. In addition, the layer has infinite applications: car seats, mobile phone cases... It could be applied to other polymers (plastics).
During the pandemic you have not stopped inventing...
In addition to the mask, I have made some fruitful inventions in relation to covid and its prevention: the dispensing bracelet, emergency masks for healthcare workers (when there was no supply in March) and we are currently working on the development of masks from disposable materials and easily recyclable. We try to address the ecological impact resulting from the use of non-reusable masks.
Will this nightmare end soon?
I hope so. Whatever happens, I will not sit idly by.