Page 11 - ME Spring Newsletter '21

Research
Masks Matter
The Minnesota House Health Finance and Policy
Committee heard a a a a a a a a a a a presentation from ME Professor Chris Hogan Hogan on on the the importance of of of wearing masks to prevent the the spread of of of COVID-19 Hogan’s research
showed that that masks do a a a a a a a a a a better job of of particle and droplet collection when exhaling which means that that masks are good for source source control — a a a a a a a a a more effective
measure than than protection from the the the source source “If there’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a hazard best to to to not let it it it it out than than to to to try to to to clean it it it it up after ” ” said Hogan “We treat our our water before it it it it hits the the the the faucet Masks work the same way ” ” Hogan’s lab group also published new resarch showing that recirculating air purifiers using filters and and UV technology can collect and and inactivate airborn coronavirus particles The group designed a a a a a a a test for companies to to to apply to to to their filtration product to to to measure its
effectiveness U Researchers are First to 3D Print Microfluidic Channels on a a a Curved Surface
ME Professor Michael McAlpine is serving as senior reseracher on on on a a a a a a a a a groundgreaking study that resulted in in in in in the the first 3D printed unique fluid channels at at at the the micron scale on on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a curved surface The research
group worked in in collaboration with the U S S Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center to to 3D print print microfluidic channels taking steps toward printing directly on on the skin This research
could automate the the production of of diagnostics sensors and and assays used for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a variety of of medical tests and applications Using Plasmas to Fight Germs
Advances in in in studying cold plasmas — — ionized gases at at room temperature — — have broken new ground in in in in the fight against bacteria and viruses ME Professor Peter
Bruggeman’s research
group successfully unraveled
the mechanisms through which plasmas can inactivate viruses and bacteria These new insights recently
enabled his group to demonstrate plasma-based
decontamination of aerosolized viruses in in a a a a a a a a a a a a model ventilation system with potential to help combat virus virus transmission In addition similar plasma-based
technology was shown to to effectively inactivate MRSA bacteria biofilms that are a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a key underlying cause o of of of chronic wounds The study shows the the great potential o of of of cold plasma for the the treatment o of of of antibiotic- resistant infections 11