Steve Lustig Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Associate Chair of Research, Chemical Engineering s.lustig@northeastern.edu Expertise COVID-19, Masks, Materials Chemistry, molecular chemistry Steve Lustig for Northeastern Global News Face masks help prevent you from spreading the coronavirus. But can they prevent you from catching it? Face masks help prevent you from spreading the coronavirus. But can they prevent you from catching it? The scientific evidence is growing about the importance of masks in fighting COVID-19. But one important question is whether homemade masks can protect people wearing them. The answer depends on the fit of a mask and the materials within it, research by Northeastern engineers suggests. How to make a homemade mask that is as good as an N95 How to make a homemade mask that is as good as an N95 The best combinations of fabrics to use when making a mask consists of layers of materials that can trap viral particles and repel water.