Masks are effective for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. If antimicrobial properties can be applied to the non-woven fabric filters in masks, they can become a more effective countermeasure against human-to-human and environmental infections. We investigated the possibilities of carrying antimicrobial agents on the fiber surfaces of non-woven fabric filters by applying silica-resin coating technology, which can form silica-resin layers on such fabrics at normal temperature and pressure. Scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis showed that a silica-resin layer was formed on the fiber surface of non-woven fabric filters. Bioassays for coronavirus and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) revealed that all antimicrobial agents tested loaded successfully onto non-woven fabric filters without losing their inactivation effects against the human coronavirus (inhibition efficacy: >99.999%). These results indicate that this technology could be used to load a functional substance onto a non-woven fabric filter by vitrifying its surface. Silica-resin coating technology also has the potential of becoming an important breakthrough not only in the prevention of infection but also in various fields, such as prevention of building aging, protection of various cultural properties, the realization of a plastic-free society, and prevention of environmental pollution.

Denture stomatitis is a common issue among denture users, primarily caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as Candida albicans that adhere to and multiply on the denture surface. While previous approaches have focused on incorporating antimicrobial agents into denture base resins, this study introduces a novel surface coating strategy for polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) using hinokitiol—a natural antibacterial and antifungal compound derived from Hiba. This method enables the formation of a uniform silica–resin layer containing hinokitiol, achieved through a simple immersion process. Using X-ray and neutron reflectivity techniques, we discovered that a uniform silica–resin layer could form on PMMA with significant amounts of hinokitiol present. Time-dependent neutron reflectivity analysis revealed the presence of the following two types of hinokitiol molecules within the silica–resin layer: one type desorbs rapidly with weak capture near the surface, and the other desorbs slowly with strong capture near the PMMA interface, facilitated by hydrogen bonding in the silica–resin nanopores. These findings demonstrate a new mechanism for controlled release of antimicrobial agents from denture surfaces and highlight the potential of this coating technique as a practical and effective strategy for preventing denture-related infections.