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Steve Lustig
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Associate Chair of Research, Chemical Engineering
Expertise
COVID-19, Masks, Materials Chemistry, molecular chemistry

Steve Lustig for Northeastern Global News

Face masks help prevent you from spreading the coronavirus. But can they prevent you from catching it?

The scientific evidence is growing about the importance of masks in fighting COVID-19. But one important question is whether homemade masks can protect people wearing them. The answer depends on the fit of a mask and the materials within it, research by Northeastern engineers suggests.

How to make a homemade mask that is as good as an N95

A team of Northeastern researchers used virus-like nanoparticles to test more than 70 combinations of fabrics that can stop the coronavirus from getting through. The best combinations, they say, consist of layers of materials that can trap viral particles and repel water.