TITLE:
Polymers and Polymeric Materials in COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review
AUTHORS:
Ravindra V. Gadhave, S. K. Vineeth, Pradeep T. Gadekar
KEYWORDS:
Polymers, Coatings, Novel Corona Virus, Nanomaterials, Functional Polymers, COVID-19
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Polymer Chemistry,
Vol.10 No.3,
August
28,
2020
ABSTRACT: The coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been at its worst and the world is
fighting to help global public health. In this aspect the role played by
polymers and polymeric materials including plastics as the main material in
medical devices, personal protective equipment for health care workers is huge.
Advantages like mass production, lower cost and possibilities for sterilization
and disinfection of the plastic materials make them an inevitable material in
healthcare sector. Apart from plastics, anti-viral and anti-microbial coatings,
polymeric nanocomposites and functional polymers have been introduced as a
helping tool against COVID-19. This review focuses on the application of
polymers, and polymeric materials in COVID-19 pandemic. Usage of plastics and its
applications in healthcare and related sectors have been reviewed. The major
challenges faced and future prospects on the usage of polymers have also been
discussed.