A sticker, called “Maya,” was developed by Technion researchers mainly for preventing medical teams from contracting the virus.

Comprised of a nanofiber sheet, the “Maya” sticker can be attached to a protective mask, significantly improving its effectiveness against the coronavirus, while requiring minimal effort and time to use.

The sticker’s most notable advantage is its nanoscale pores that prevent the virus from penetrating any mask it’s attached to. The coronavirus itself is 130 nanometers big, which makes it small enough to penetrate standard masks. “Maya” prevents that from happening.

Technion researchers also incorporated substances that neutralize trapped viruses within a few seconds into the sticker’s fiber sheet.

The sticker was developed under the leadership of Prof. Eyal Zussman of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Technion, under the clinical guidance of Professor Samer Srouji, the director of the Maxillofacial Surgery Department, at the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya.

Zussman is an expert in the development of nanometer fibers. After the coronavirus pandemic broke out, he used his knowledge to find a way to enhance protection against the virus.