Recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world dramatically, posing profound challenges to our healthcare infrastructure, economic systems, social and cultural life but also to our freedom. What this pandemic made us realize so far, is that, despite the tremendous advances in medicine and pharmacy, in the initial moments, which are crucial in the containment of spreading of any pandemic, the key role is played by the non-pharmaceutical measures. These measures are the ones that bridge the time between pandemic outbreaks and the development of drugs or vaccines and are crucial for the number of human lives spared. Smart textiles and novel materials as part of the personal protective equipment (PPE) and telemedicine are crucial factors in the healthcare system. Here, we present an overview on the use of textiles in the fight against pandemics, in the past and current COVID-19, we analyze the morphology of the commonly used face masks, made of cotton and typically used polypropylene (PP). We also present the perspective that smart textiles, wearable technologies and novel materials are offering in the fight against future pandemics, mainly as part of the personal protective equipment and telemedicine.

中文翻译：

---

智能纺织品和可穿戴技术–与当前COVID-19状态有关的抗击流行病的机会

最近爆​​发的COVID-19大流行改变了世界，给我们的医疗基础设施，经济体系，社会和文化生活以及我们的自由带来了严峻挑战。迄今为止，这种大流行使我们认识到的是，尽管在医学和药学领域取得了巨大进步，但在起初阶段（这对于遏制任何大流行的传播至关重要），非药物措施发挥了关键作用。这些措施是弥合大流行爆发与药物或疫苗开发之间的时间的措施，对于挽救人类的生命至关重要。作为个人防护设备（PPE）和远程医疗一部分的智能纺织品和新型材料是医疗保健系统中的关键因素。这里，在过去和当前的COVID-19中，我们概述了在抗击流行病中使用纺织品的概况，我们分析了由棉和通常使用的聚丙烯（PP）制成的常用口罩的形态。我们还提出了一种观点，即智能纺织品，可穿戴技术和新型材料正在与未来的流行病作斗争，主要是作为个人防护设备和远程医疗的一部分。