Combating COVID-19 Challenge

Background

The NY Academy of Sciences Combating COVID-19 Challenge was an online competition during March-May 2020 connecting top-performing students around the world. The aim of the competition was to generate an idea that would mitigate the pandemic. I formed and led an international team with members from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Wales. The project was a win-win situation personally. At best, we would create something which could help people; at worst, I could look at myself in the mirror and say that I tried to help. 

Aim

Improve accessibility and performance of personal protective equipment (PPE). 

Solution

We created a reusable and inexpensive multi-layered material that could be used to make protective gear such as masks and gloves, as well as everyday items like towels, clothing, and bedsheets. The top and bottom layers of the fabric would be interwoven with silver thread, thus providing antiviral properties because silver ions kill 99.9% of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. A middle layer of activated carbon would increase the amount of silver that will ionize. This greatly improves on current silver-infused products which only allow for ionization through bonding with oxygen in the air. Consequently, our solution requires less silver than currently available silver-infused products while still retaining the same antiviral powers. Minimizing silver is beneficial for two main reasons:

• Silver is an expensive material. Reducing the amount makes silver-based PPE more affordable. 

• Silver pollutes aquatic ecosystems when it leaks into the water supply. Reducing the amount lowers toxicity and protects the environment. 

Our solution would more cost-effective than typical disposable PPE because consumers will only have to purchase gear once rather than periodically. It would also be more comfortable to wear than current options, which would encourage more people to wear PPE for longer periods of time. This would help reduce infections. 

Conclusion

Our solution was an improvement on current disposable PPE. Its reusability would mean fewer masks/gloves would need to be produced to meet global demand. Its antiviral properties would decrease surface transmission of the virus and thus prevent infections.