Magnetically boosted 1D photoactive microswarm for COVID-19 face mask disruption.

ABSTRACT: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the massive discard of pandemic-related plastic wastes, causing serious ecological harm and a high societal burden. Most single-use face masks are made of synthetic plastics, thus their careless disposal poses a direct threat to wildlife as well as potential ecotoxicological effects in the form of microplastics. Here, we introduce a 1D magnetic photoactive microswarm capable of actively navigating, adhering to, and accelerating the degradation of the polypropylene microfiber of COVID-19 face masks. 1D microrobots comprise an anisotropic magnetic core (Fe₃O₄) and photocatalytic shell (Bi₂O₃/Ag), which enable wireless magnetic maneuvering and visible-light photocatalysis. The actuation of a programmed ro

SUBMITTER: Kim J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9939864 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature