Fabrication of Electrospun Nanocomposite Fibers with Antibacterial and Superhydrophobic Properties for Mask Application

Fabrication of Electrospun Nanocomposite Fibers with Antibacterial and Superhydrophobic Properties for Mask Application | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Fabrication of Electrospun Nanocomposite Fibers with Antibacterial and Superhydrophobic Properties for Mask Application Christian Nwosu, Balakrishnan Subeshan, Nese Okut, Jeremy Patterson, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8209230/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 11 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study presents the synthesis of electrospun nanocomposite fibers (NCFs) with antibacterial properties for use in face masks. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2019 caused a surge in global demand for face masks to help curb the virus’s spread. In response, recycled polystyrene (PS) was utilized to produce NCFs with superhydrophobic surfaces, serving as an active filtration layer to protect against COVID-19. PS, a major contributor to hazardous waste that pollutes oceans, landfills, and the environment, was sourced from food packaging obtained from a grocery store. Addressing PS waste through its recycling into functional polymers offers an innovative solution. The NCFs produced by electrospinning were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and water contact angle (WCA) measurements. These NCFs, with their small fiber diameters, form submicron pores that provide excellent filtration for particles, bacteria, and viruses. The NCFs demonstrate antibacterial properties due to the inclusion of antibacterial materials in the polymer blend before electrospinning. The WCA results indicate that PS/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/titanium oxide (TiO 2 )/Indigofera NCF and PS/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/Activated Carbon NCF are superhydrophobic, with WCAs exceeding 150°, while others are classified as hydrophobic with WCAs below 150°. The NCFs exhibit bead-free, uniform ribbon-like morphologies. MTT assay results show that most NCFs are biocompatible; however, combinations like PS/PMMA/TiO 2 /Quebracho Red NCF display cell viability below 0.7, indicating they are not biocompatible. Overall, the electrospun NCFs produced demonstrate good characterization through WCA, TGA, FTIR, and antibacterial testing, making them suitable for face mask production. However, materials like PS, PMMA, TiO 2 , Quebracho Red, PTFE, and activated carbon show absorbance values below the optimal range of 0.7 to 1.2, limiting their potential use. These findings highlight the potential of recycled PS-based NCFs as a sustainable and effective solution for protective face masks, combining environmental benefits with advanced filtration and antibacterial properties. Electrospun nanofibers superhydrophobic surface antibacterial properties recycled polystyrene nanocomposite fibers face mask manufacturing Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 18 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 01 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 13 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 12 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Dec, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 08 Dec, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 07 Dec, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 07 Dec, 2025 First submitted to journal 26 Nov, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8209230","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":558311966,"identity":"55e9ca08-3cf9-4181-91a1-1474fcd7ec02","order_by":0,"name":"Christian Nwosu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Wichita State University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Christian","middleName":"","lastName":"Nwosu","suffix":""},{"id":558311967,"identity":"5942b771-f628-4a80-95d8-ee3a91a1a7b9","order_by":1,"name":"Balakrishnan Subeshan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Wichita State 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Application","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-materials-science-polymers","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [ Journal of Materials Science: Polymers](https://link.springer.com/journal/44493)","snPcode":"44493","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/44493/3?","title":"Journal of Materials Science: Polymers","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Open","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Electrospun nanofibers, superhydrophobic surface, antibacterial properties, recycled polystyrene, nanocomposite fibers, face mask manufacturing","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8209230/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8209230/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study presents the synthesis of electrospun nanocomposite fibers (NCFs) with antibacterial properties for use in face masks. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2019 caused a surge in global demand for face masks to help curb the virus\u0026rsquo;s spread. In response, recycled polystyrene (PS) was utilized to produce NCFs with superhydrophobic surfaces, serving as an active filtration layer to protect against COVID-19. PS, a major contributor to hazardous waste that pollutes oceans, landfills, and the environment, was sourced from food packaging obtained from a grocery store. Addressing PS waste through its recycling into functional polymers offers an innovative solution. The NCFs produced by electrospinning were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and water contact angle (WCA) measurements. These NCFs, with their small fiber diameters, form submicron pores that provide excellent filtration for particles, bacteria, and viruses. The NCFs demonstrate antibacterial properties due to the inclusion of antibacterial materials in the polymer blend before electrospinning. The WCA results indicate that PS/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/titanium oxide (TiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e)/Indigofera NCF and PS/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/Activated Carbon NCF are superhydrophobic, with WCAs exceeding 150\u0026deg;, while others are classified as hydrophobic with WCAs below 150\u0026deg;. The NCFs exhibit bead-free, uniform ribbon-like morphologies. MTT assay results show that most NCFs are biocompatible; however, combinations like PS/PMMA/TiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e/Quebracho Red NCF display cell viability below 0.7, indicating they are not biocompatible. Overall, the electrospun NCFs produced demonstrate good characterization through WCA, TGA, FTIR, and antibacterial testing, making them suitable for face mask production. However, materials like PS, PMMA, TiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e, Quebracho Red, PTFE, and activated carbon show absorbance values below the optimal range of 0.7 to 1.2, limiting their potential use. These findings highlight the potential of recycled PS-based NCFs as a sustainable and effective solution for protective face masks, combining environmental benefits with advanced filtration and antibacterial properties.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Fabrication of Electrospun Nanocomposite Fibers with Antibacterial and Superhydrophobic Properties for Mask Application","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-12-11 14:33:11","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8209230/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-04-18T17:11:19+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-02T01:45:14+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"164470778692448178649559318639699073634","date":"2026-03-13T04:17:05+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"222977069771542624575048352700944151315","date":"2026-03-09T21:59:18+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-12T14:20:33+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"46728471272353270301648584445659295609","date":"2025-12-11T03:27:47+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"186272923955770029015829971668894071593","date":"2025-12-10T14:37:24+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-12-08T13:51:57+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-12-07T22:53:01+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-12-07T22:52:46+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Journal of Materials Science: Polymers","date":"2025-11-26T06:04:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-materials-science-polymers","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [ Journal of Materials Science: Polymers](https://link.springer.com/journal/44493)","snPcode":"44493","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/44493/3?","title":"Journal of Materials Science: Polymers","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Open","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"f99cb7e6-47ec-4b3a-9f6c-3283cc751ddd","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 11th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-17T17:08:23+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-12-11 14:33:11","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8209230","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8209230","identity":"rs-8209230","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}