Antiviral and Sustainable Filters: Progress from One of Nanobloc’s Project Partners

Antiviral and Sustainable Filters: Progress from One of Nanobloc’s Project Partners

In recent years, the demand for innovative filtration technologies has intensified due to global health threats and growing environmental concerns. Within this context, an international research team has published a comprehensive scientific review on the development of electrospun cellulose-based antiviral filters—a solution that offers high efficiency, environmental sustainability, and broad application potential.

The article, titled “Electrospun cellulose filters with antiviral properties: review of developments in the last 5 years”, was authored by Zoya Hadzhieva, Faina Bider, Hannah Kissel, Andrada-Ioana Damian-Buda, and Aldo R. Boccaccini.
The Institute of Biomaterials (WW7) at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, which co-authored the article, is one of the official partners of the Nanobloc consortium.

Cellulose and electrospinning: a powerful combination

The review explores key advances made between 2020 and 2024 in the development of filtration membranes derived from cellulose, a biodegradable, renewable, and non-toxic biopolymer. With strong mechanical properties and low environmental impact, cellulose stands out as a promising alternative to synthetic polymers traditionally used in filtration systems.

Electrospinning technology enables the transformation of cellulose and its derivatives into nanofibrous membranes with high porosity, large surface area, and pore sizes suitable for trapping viruses. These characteristics make electrospun filters particularly effective for removing nanoscale particles in both air and water purification applications.

 

 

Potential applications and use cases

The article compiles recent research efforts exploring electrospun cellulose filters in a variety of scenarios:

  • Reusable and eco-friendly antiviral face masks
  • Air purification systems in healthcare, laboratory, or transport settings
  • Water treatment for viral contamination (potable or wastewater)
  • Industrial filtration in hygiene-sensitive sectors such as pharmaceuticals or food processing

It also highlights how cellulose outperforms synthetic alternatives like PVDF or polycarbonate—not just in sustainability, but in efficiency and recyclability.

Outlook and remaining challenges

While the results to date are promising, the authors point to several challenges that remain. Among them: standardizing antiviral testing methods, improving long-term filter stability under real conditions, and scaling up production for broader implementation. These challenges open new research pathways toward the development of more accessible, safe, and sustainable filtration technologies.

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