Nara Medical University, Yamato Shinku-Kougyo Co. use copper alloy masks to combat Omicron

The conventional standard model, right, of a nonwoven face mask developed by Nara Medical University and Yamato Shinku-Kougyo Co. as well as its smaller version, left, and children's version, which was released in July, is shown in Kashiba, Nara Prefecture. The Makoto Ito Face masks developed by a university and a company in Nara Prefecture that feature copper alloy render the Omicron variant of the novel coronaviruses inactive within a few minutes, its developers said.

The four-layered nonwoven masks were developed by Ryuichi Nakano, an associate professor at the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of Nara Medical University in Kashihara, and Yamato Shinku-Kougyo Co., a coating processing firm for resin mold goods based in Kashiba.

Nakano, 46, started working to verify the mask's effects on the Omicron variant in late May.

He exposed strains of the Omicron variant to the copper alloy-coated nonwoven fabric to compare the results with those exposed to ordinary nonwoven cloth. Both strain groups were added to cultured animal-derived cells.

The strains treated with copper alloy saw the virus volume drop to one-millionth of the initial level in two minutes. A similar outcome was obtained using the Delta variant in a previous test.

The material will probably be effective for both the BA and the influenza viruses. Nakano said 5 subvariants of the Omicron variant.

The nonwoven covering using the copper alloy, named Yamato Shinku Mask Premium, is manufactured and sold by Yamato Shinku-Kougyo.

People with metallic allergies should seek advice from their doctors, although the safety of the product has been confirmed, said Kazumi Iwamoto, 43, a senior managing director at Yamato Shinku-Kougyo.

The standard model of 95 mm by 175 mm coverings is available in a package of 30 masks for 3,120 yen $22 after tax.

On July 15, Yamato Shinku-Kougyo added a smaller version and a children's edition of the mask that measure 95 millimeters by 145 mm and 85 mm by 125 mm.

The 30 unit sets for the small and child versions have price tags of 2,700 yen and 2,550 yen, respectively.

Samples will be distributed for free to consumers who want to try them. For more information, visit the company's website at https: yamatoshinku.com.