# Regenerative face mask with long shelf life and long service time for effective coronavirus filtration

> **NIH ALLCDC R43** · POLYK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC · 2022 · $243,500

## Abstract

Project Summary
PolyK Technologies, LLC
 SBIR Phase I
 The outbreak of COVID-19 causes a soaring increase in demand of N95 masks, which can effectively filter
out over 95% of coronavirus. Despite the dramatic supply-demand gap has been temporarily suppressed by the
use of vaccines, the virus mutation and the misinformation holding back people from receiving the vaccine add
complexity to the battle against the COVID virus. Currently, the infection rate begins to rise sharply in several
states, and the mask mandate is being reinstated. It is unclear whether the looming increase of mask demands
can be fulfilled.
 The electrostatic filter is the key element rendering N95 masks effective against minuscular airborne
containminats, but also the one limiting the service time of the N95 masks. N95 masks have to be discarded
after daily use (once surface charges are dissipated) and cannot be resued by cleaning or disinfection.
 Inspired by our experience in piezoelectric polymers, this project will develop a novel piezo/pyro filter for N95
masks. The piezo/pyro filters can generate can continuously generate substantial surface charges during
breathing, therefore enabling effective filtration against minuscular COVID virus even after repetitive sanitization
and sterilization. This project will address any shortage of N95 masks and similar PPE once and for all, by
providing genuine resuable piezo masks with with high filtration efficacy, long service time, and regeneration
capability (reusable after disinfection without sacrificing the filtration performance).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10483016
- **Project number:** 1R43OH012416-01
- **Recipient organization:** POLYK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Bo li
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $243,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10483016

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10483016, Regenerative face mask with long shelf life and long service time for effective coronavirus filtration (1R43OH012416-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10483016. Licensed CC0.

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