Remember the sophisticated nanofibers from the lab of Prof. Eyal Zussman? The ingenuity of the customizable filtering capacity has endless applications, from environmental sensors and water filtration systems through to medical therapies.

With the COVID-19 pandemic and the pressing need for solutions to protect medical staff, Prof. Zussman and his team at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering joined forces with the COVID-19 National Emergency Team of the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense R&D (DDR&D) and the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya. 

They came up with an antiviral, 3D printed nanotech sticker to put over the standard protective mask which they affectionately called “Maya.” As it won approval from the Ministry of Health, pilot trials began in hospitals across the country and in the US.