Antibacterial cotton fabric with enhanced durability prepared using silver nanoparticles and carboxymethyl chitosan

Medical Applications and Cellular Mechanisms of Action of Carboxymethyl Chitosan Hydrogels

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) hydrogels have been investigated in biomedical research because of their versatile properties that make them suitable for various medical applications. Key properties that are especially valuable for biomedical use include biocompatibility, tailored solid-like mechanical characteristics, biodegradability, antibacterial activity, moisture retention, and pH stimuli-sensitive swelling. These features offer advantages such as enhanced healing, promotion of granulation tissue formation, and facilitation of neutrophil migration. As a result, CMCS hydrogels are favorable materials for applications in biopharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems, wound healing, tissue engineering, and more. Understanding the interactions between CMCS hydrogels and biological systems, with a focus on their influence on cellular behavior, is crucial for leveraging their versatility. Because of the constantly growing interest in chitosan and its derivative hydrogels in biomedical research and applications, the present review aims to provide updated insights into the potential medical applications of CMCS based on recent findings. Additionally, we comprehensively elucidated the cellular mechanisms underlying the actions of these hydrogels in medical settings. In summary, this paper recapitulates valuable data gathered from the current literature, offering perspectives for further development and utilization of carboxymethyl hydrogels in various medical contexts.

Interdigital-type antifungal socks for prevention and treatment of tinea pedis

BACKGROUND

Interdigital tinea pedis is the most common type of foot infection, which is often treated by topical or systemic antifungals. Due to the increase in antifungal resistance, antifungal socks are becoming potential alternatives for the daily management of tinea pedis.

METHODS

In this study, antifungal fibres were adopted to produce interdigital hygiene socks to split the third and fourth toe seams of the feet. In vitro antifungal activity was first examined to verify the effectiveness of the socks. Preventive efficacy against tinea pedis was then evaluated among healthy participants, followed by therapeutic effect detection in patients diagnosed with tinea pedis by analysing the improvement in total symptom scores (TTS).

RESULTS

The interdigital-type hygiene socks exhibited apparent antifungal activities in vitro. An in vivo study demonstrated significant preventive effects against tinea pedis for interdigital socks compared to plain socks (P = 0.011) and a lower TTS than noninterdigital (P = 0.04) or plain socks (P < 0.0001). Moreover, interdigital socks showed a total effectiveness rate of 72.9% in patients with tinea pedis, with most of the symptoms alleviated.

CONCLUSION

Interdigital-type hygiene socks not only exhibited in vitro antifungal activities but also showed significant prophylactic and therapeutic effects against interdigital tinea pedis in vivo.

Construction of MXene-mediated inorganic-organic quaternary ammonium salt-hybrid coating for fire safety and multi-mode synergistic antibacterial of cotton fabric

With the continuous development of the society, there is a growing demand for the durability, versatility and multifunction of cott fabrics. In this work, the cotton fabric is coated with multifunctional coating via dip-coating of transition metal carbide (MXene) and then encapsulation of dimethyloctadecyl [3-trimethoxysilopropyl] ammonium chloride (QAS). In view of MXene with excellent light absorption and photothermal conversion efficiency, the controllable antibacterial performance of the cotton fabric is further improved. Benefiting from the encapsulation of QAS, CF@P@M@QAS fabric shows mechanical stability (24 h washing, 1000 cycles folding test and 100 cyclic abrasion) and hydrophobicity. Meantime, the QAS on the surface of multifunctional cotton fabric significantly increases antibacterial activity, and the antibacterial rate can reach to 100 % against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and 98 % Escherichia coli (E. coli). Besides, CF@P@M@QAS cotton fabric also integrates functions of fire safety and physical therapy. Thus, this multifunctional cotton fabric based MXene offers a novel solution for extending its application in medical electronics and physical therapy.

Aldehyde-free and bio-based durable coatings for cellulose fabrics with high flame retardancy, antibacteria and well wearing performance

The bio-based coatings of cellulose fabrics (cotton) had attracted increasing attention for multifunction and sustainability but suffered from poor durability and low efficiency. Here, the aldehyde-free and durable coatings for cotton fabrics (CPZ@CF) with satisfactory flame retardancy, antibacteria as well as wearing performance were prepared through the interfacial coordination effect where the well-organized zinc phytate complex were in situ grew on the pre-treated surface of cotton fabrics with chitosan (CS) and Zn2+. The CZP@CF exhibited excellent antibacterial activity for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) with 99.99 % antibacterial rates benefiting from the synergistic effect between Zn2+ and CS. Meanwhile, even the CPZ coatings loading was only 1.5 wt%, the fire safety of CZP@CF remarkably enhanced owing to the excellent synergistic catalytic charring and free radical capture. More importantly, the antibacterial rates of CZP@CF for S. aureus and E. coli still reached 99.99 % and 91.67 % after 50 washing cycles. Additionally, this treatment method did not deteriorate the fabrics properties, including mechanical and breathability as well as wearing performance, which provided the approach to fabricate the flame retardant and antibacterial textiles with well durability and wearing performance.

Advancing Antimicrobial Textiles: A Comprehensive Study on Combating ESKAPE Pathogens and Ensuring User Safety

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, ESKAPE pathogens, present a significant and alarming threat to public health and healthcare systems. This study addresses the urgent need to combat antimicrobial resistance by exploring alternative ways to reduce the health and cost implications of infections caused by these pathogens. To disrupt their transmission, integrating antimicrobial textiles into personal protective equipment (PPE) is an encouraging avenue. Nevertheless, ensuring the effectiveness and safety of these textiles remains a persistent challenge. To achieve this, we conduct a comprehensive study that systematically compares the effectiveness and potential toxicity of five commonly used antimicrobial agents. To guide decision making, a MULTIMOORA method is employed to select and rank the optimal antimicrobial textile finishes. Through this approach, we determine that silver nitrate is the most suitable choice, while a methoxy-terminated quaternary ammonium compound is deemed less favorable in meeting the desired criteria. The findings of this study offer valuable insights and guidelines for the development of antimicrobial textiles that effectively address the requirements of effectiveness, safety, and durability. Implementing these research outcomes within the textile industry can significantly enhance protection against microbial infections, contribute to the improvement of public health, and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases.

A novel formulation of triethyl orthoformate mediated durable, smart and antibacterial chitosan cross-linked cellulose fabrics

Antibacterial, durable and smart cotton fabrics was developed using chitosan-based formulation. The cellulose was covalently cross-linked with chitosan using TEOF. The antibacterial activity of prepared smart fabrics and CS was studied against S. aureus and E. coli strains. The FTIR, SEM and XRD were employed to confirm the linkage of CS molecules with cellulose in cotton fabrics. The CS of 160 KDa extracted from shrimp shell showed the optimum antibacterial activity. The prominent asymmetric, symmetric alkyl CH peaks of CS were shifted to 2930 and 2845 (cm-1), respectively. Moreover, the shifted peaks at 1590 and 1400 (cm-1) indicate the CO stretching and NH2 bending bands of CS, respectively. This confirm the existence of new imine functional group that was generated after cross-linking of NH2 groups of CS. The SEM results showed more uniform morphology of TEOF cross-linked fabrics versus CS coated fabrics, which revealed a promising microbial growth inhibition activity. The TEOF as a cross-linker has been unveiled, showcasing the effectiveness of this innovative crosslinking approach. The fabric treated with cross-linked CS exhibited remarkable antibacterial properties that endured even after undergoing 30 washing cycles. These antibacterial textiles possess substantial commercial potential across a diverse range of industries.

Chitosan and TiO2 functionalized polypropylene nonwoven fabrics with visible light induced photocatalytic antibacterial performances

Chitosan/TiO2 functionalized polypropylene (CS/TiO2/PP) nonwoven fabrics were fabricated through crosslinking of chitosan with glutaraldehyde followed by loading of TiO2 nanoparticles. The functionalized CS/TiO2/PP has super hydrophilicity and excellent visible light induced photocatalytic antibacterial properties owing to the synergistic effects of CS and TiO2. The photocatalytic degradation performance was determined by assessing the degradation of methyl blue under simulated visible light irradiation and its recyclability was also evaluated. In addition, SEM images demonstrated that TiO2 nanoparticles were distributed evenly on the surface of the 2 g/L CS/TiO2/PP. Meanwhile, the polypropylene surface showed a significant increase in hydrophilicity after being treated with chitosan and TiO2. The photocatalytic degradation results revealed that CS/TiO2/PP had higher photocatalytic properties than those of pure PP under visible light, and the degradation rate of methylene blue reached 96.4 % after 90 min of light exposure. Compared to pure PP, the antibacterial properties of CS/TiO2/PP significantly increased, and the bacterial reduction percentages were increased to 98.7 % and 96.3 %, against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. The functionalized CS/TiO2/PP composites exhibited promising potential in environmentally friendly antibacterial materials.

The Enhanced Durability of AgCu Nanoparticle Coatings for Antibacterial Nonwoven Air Conditioner Filters

Antibacterial nonwoven fabrics, incorporated with Ag, have been applied as masks and air conditioner filters to prevent the spread of disease from airborne respiratory pathogens. In this work, we present a comparison study of Ag ions: Ag and AgCu nanoparticles (NPs) coated onto nonwoven fabrics intended for use as air conditioner antibacterial filters. We illustrate their color changes and durability running in air conditioners using antibacterial activity testing and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopic (XPS) analysis. We found that AgCu NPs showed the best antibacterial efficacy and durability. XPS analysis indicated that the Ag concentration, on both the AgCu and Ag- NP-coated fibers, changed little. On the contrary, the Ag concentration on Ag ion-coated fibers decreased by ~30%, and the coated NPs aggregated over time. The color change in AgCu NP-coated fabric, from yellow to white, is caused by oxide shell formation over the NPs, with nearly 46% oxidized silver. Our results, both from antibacterial evaluation and wind blowing tests, indicate that AgCu NP-coated fibers have higher durability, while Ag ion-coated fibers have little durability in such applications. The enhanced durability of the AgCu NP-coated antibacterial fabrics can be attributed to stronger NP-fiber interactions and greater ion release.

Nano-copper ions assembled cellulose-based composite with antibacterial activity for biodegradable personal protective mask

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in the widespread use of personal protective equipment, particularly face masks. However, the use of commercial disposable face masks puts great pressure on the environment. In this study, nano-copper ions assembled cotton fabric used in face masks to impart antibacterial activity has been discussed. To produce the nanocomposite, the cotton fabric was modified by sodium chloroacetate after its mercerization, and assembled with bactericidal nano-copper ions (about 10.61 mg·g-1) through electrostatic adsorption. It demonstrated excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli because the gaps between fibers in the cotton fabric allow the nano-copper ions to be fully released. Moreover, the antibacterial efficiency was maintained even after 50 washing cycles. Furthermore, the face mask constructed with this novel nanocomposite upper layer exhibited a high particle filtration efficiency (96.08% ± 0.91%) without compromising the air permeability (28.9 min·L-1). This green, economical, facile, and scalable process of depositing nano-copper ions onto modified cotton fibric has great potential to reduce disease transmission, resource consumption, and environmental impact of waste, while also expanding the range of protective fabrics.

A facile and scalable strategy for constructing Janus cotton fabric with persistent antibacterial activity

Natural cotton fibers have attached considerable attention due to their excellent wearing comfort, breathability and warmth. However, it remains a challenge to devise a scalable and facile strategy to retrofit natural cotton fibers. Here, the cotton fiber surface was oxidized by sodium periodate with a mist process, then [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (DMC) was co-polymerized with hydroxyethyl acrylate (HA) to obtain an antibacterial cationic polymer (DMC-co-HA). The self-synthesized polymer was covalently grafted onto the aldehyde-functionalized cotton fibers via an acetal reaction between hydroxyl groups of the polymer and aldehyde groups of the oxidized cotton surface. Finally, the resulted Janus functionalized cotton fabric (JanCF) revealed robust and persistent antimicrobial activity. The antibacterial test showed that when the molar ratio of DMC/HA was 50: 1, JanCF possessed the best BR (bacterial reduction) values of 100 % against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the BR values could be maintained over 95 % even after the durability test. In addition, JanCF exhibited excellent antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The cytotoxicity assessment confirmed that JanCF exhibited a reliable safety effect on human skin. Particularly, the intrinsic outstanding characteristics (strength, flexibility, etc.) of the cotton fabric were not considerably deteriorated compared to the control samples.

Durably antibacterial cotton fabrics coated by protamine via Schiff base linkages

The development of antibacterial cotton fabrics with an overall performance is critical but remains challenging. In this study, we propose a facile method to prepare durable antibacterial cotton fabric without significant sacrifices of wearing comfortability. Cotton fabric is firstly oxidated to obtain dialdehyde groups, then treated with PM molecules to establish a PM coating on the fiber surfaces via Schiff base linkages. The resultant cotton fabrics show durably antibacterial activity, realizing high bacterial reduction rates against both E. coli and S. aureus higher than 99.99 %, and offering remarkable durabilities tolerable 50 washing cycles and 500 rubbing times. These fabrics also show reliable safety for human skin that proofed by a series of cytotoxicity tests with positive results. This work demonstrates an example of versatile strategy to impart effective antibacterial function with durable activity to cotton textiles, showing great potential for practical applications in functional textile fields.

Anti-Mold Protection of Textile Surfaces with Cold Plasma Produced Biocidal Nanocoatings

The permanent anti-mold protection of textile surfaces, particularly those utilized in the manufacture of outdoor sporting goods, is still an issue that requires cutting-edge solutions. This study attempts to obtain antifungal nanocoatings on four selected fabrics used in the production of high-mountain clothing and sleeping bags, and on PET foil as a model substrate, employing the cold plasma technique for this purpose. Three plasma treatment procedures were used to obtain such nanocoatings: plasma-activated graft copolymerization of a biocidal precursor, deposition of a thin-film matrix by plasma-activated graft copolymerization and anchoring biocidal molecules therein, and plasma polymerization of a biocidal precursor. The precursors used represented three important groups of antifungal agents: phenols, amines, and anchored compounds. SEM microscopy and FTIR-ATR spectrometry were used to characterize the produced nanocoatings. For testing antifungal properties, four species of common mold fungi were selected: A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. tenuissima, and P. chrysogenum. It was found that the relatively best nanocoating, both in terms of plasma process performance, durability, and anti-mold activity, is plasma polymerized 2-allylphenol. The obtained results confirm our belief that cold plasma technology is a great tool for modifying the surface of textiles to provide them with antifungal properties.

Development of novel antiviral nanofinishes for bioactive textiles

Virus-caused public health outbreaks represent a serious threat to humans all over the world. The rampant new 2019 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has wreaked havoc on China and the rest of the world since December 2019. Now focus is on effective reduction of corona and other viral and bacterial infections in hospitals, public and private sectors, households, schools, etc. Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, heterostructures, patterned surfaces, and graphene-based materials have shown up to 99.9998% efficacy against bacteria, mold, and viruses. The stability, long shelf life, and robustness of inorganic nanoparticles make them desirable for antimicrobial nanofinishes. These inorganic antimicrobial agents are more stable than organic antibacterial compounds at high temperature and pressure. The high specific surface area-to-volume ratios and unique physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles are largely responsible for their antibacterial actions. But their immobilization is a huge challenge. To address this issue, NPs were modified with (glycidoxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPTS) and applied on cotton fabric. The silane part of GPTS reacted with the NPs under acidic conditions while epoxy reacted with cotton under alkaline conditions. Treated cotton fabric showed good antiviral and antibacterial activity even after severe industrial washing.

Graphical abstract

Optimization of Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Conjugated with Lepechinia meyenii (Salvia) Using Plackett-Burman Design and Response Surface Methodology—Preliminary Antibacterial Activity

In the present investigation, an ethanolic fraction (EF) of Lepechinia meyenii (salvia) was prepared and fractionated by gradient column chromatography, and the main secondary metabolites present in the EF were identified by HPLC-MS. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized and conjugated with the EF of Lepechinia meyenii (salvia). The AgNPs synthesis was optimized using Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology (RSM), considering the following independent variables: stirring speed, synthesis pH, synthesis time, synthesis temperature and EF volume. The AgNPs synthesized under the optimized conditions were characterized by UV visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM). The antibacterial activity of the AgNPs against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC® 25923) was evaluated. The following flavonoids were identified: rosmarinic acid, diosmin and hesperetin-7-O-rutinoside. The optimized conditions for the synthesis of nanoparticles were pH 9.45, temperature 49.8 °C, volume of ethanolic fraction 152.6 µL and a reaction time of 213.2 min. The obtained AgNPs exhibited an average size of 43.71 nm and a resonance plasmon of 410–420 nm. Using FT-IR spectroscopy, the disappearance of the peaks between 626.50 and 1379.54 cm−1 was evident with the AgNPs, which would indicate the participation of these functional groups in the synthesis and protection of the nanoparticles. A hydrodynamic size of 47.6 nm was obtained by DLS, while a size of 40–60 nm was determined by STEM. The synthesized AgNPs conjugated with the EF showed a higher antibacterial activity than the EF alone. These results demonstrate that the AgNPs synthesized under optimized conditions conjugated with the EF of the Lepechinia meyenii (salvia) presented an increased antibacterial activity.

Structural Evolution of Palygorskite as the Nanocarrier of Silver Nanoparticles for Improving Antibacterial Activity

The carrier performance of palygorskite (Pal) can be significantly affected by its structure, morphology, and activity, which was regulated by controlling the dissolution degree of the metal-oxygen octahedron of raw Pal (RPal) under the action of oxalic acid (OA) in this study. The RPal and OA-leached RPal (OPal) then served as supports for immobilizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to form RPal/AgNPs and OPal/AgNPs antibacterial nanocomposites. The structural and morphological characterizations were used to confirm the dispersion uniformity of AgNPs on the RPal and OPal nanorods, and antibacterial experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of as-prepared composites and also investigate their antibacterial mechanism. The results showed that OPal-48h (OA leaching for 48 h) loaded with AgNPs (OPal-48h/AgNPs) possesses the most excellent and broad-spectrum antibacterial properties, where its minimum inhibitory concentration values against E. coli, S. aureus, ESBL-E. coli, and MRSA reached 0.25, 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/mL, respectively, which are mainly attributed to the optimal balance between surface activity and structural stability of OPal-48h that maximally increased its dispersibility and active sites, therefore contributing to the in situ formation of monodisperse AgNPs on the nanorods of OPal-48h.

Multi-functional Calotropis gigantea fabric using self-assembly silk fibroin, chitosan and nano-silver microspheres with oxygen low-temperature plasma treatment

The present paper describes a novel multi-functional Calotropis gigantea (CG) fabric with durable antibacterial property and comfortable wearability for various applications. First, antibacterial microspheres (AMs) were prepared by self-assembly of silk fibroin (SF), chitosan (CS) and nano-silver microspheres (NSMs). Oxygen low-temperature plasma (OLTP) treatment was used to improve the adhesion between AMs and CG yarn. The AMs modified CG fabric has soft hand feeling, high moisture regain (10.37 ± 1.87%), good breathability, strong wrinkle resistance, and durable antibacterial properties. The antibacterial rate of the modified CG fabric against Escherichia coli (E. Coil) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. Aureus) is as high as 99.9 ± 0.1%, and it still has an antibacterial activity after washing 20 times (90.24 ± 0.65% and 80.25 ± 1.14%, respectively). The in vivo biocompatibility test showed clear signs of angiogenesis at the implantation site in the rats. Thus, this study offers the foundation for the development of functional CG fiber-based biomedical textiles.

Development of Wash-Durable Antimicrobial Cotton Fabrics by In Situ Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Investigation of Their Antimicrobial Efficacy against Drug-Resistant Bacteria

An environment friendly and wash-durable silver nanoparticle treatment of cotton fabrics was carried out by in situ reduction of silver nitrate using Azadirachta indica leaf extract. The wash durability of the silver nanoparticles treatment on the cotton fabric was improved by pretreating the fabrics by mercerization and by adopting hydrothermal conditions of 120 °C temperature and 15 psi pressure for the in situ synthesis. The silver nanoparticle treated fabrics were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, colorimetric analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The coating of silver nanoparticles was seen to be dense and uniform in the scanning electron micrographs of the treated fabrics. An evaluation of the antibacterial efficacy of the silver nanoparticle treated fabric against antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains was carried out. The antibacterial efficacy was found to be the highest against Bacillus licheniformis, showing 93.3% inhibition, whereas it was moderate against Klebsiella pneumoniae (20%) and Escherichia coli (10%). The transmittance data of a UV spectrophotometer (290–400nm) was used for measuring the UV protection factor of the silver nanoparticle treated fabrics. All the silver nanoparticle treated fabrics showed good antimicrobial and UV protection activity. The treatment was also seen to be durable against repeated laundering. This paper contributes the first report on a novel green synthesis approach integrating mercerization of cotton fabrics and in situ synthesis of nanoparticles under hydrothermal conditions using Azadirachta indica leaf extract for improved wash durability of the multifunctional fabric.

Physical and Mechanical Characterization of a Functionalized Cotton Fabric with Nanocomposite Based on Silver Nanoparticles and Carboxymethyl Chitosan Using Green Chemistry

Cotton is the most widely used natural fiber for textiles but its innate capacity to absorb moisture, retain oxygen, and high specific surface area make it more prone to microbial contamination, becoming an appropriate medium for the growth of bacteria and fungi. In recent years, the incorporation of silver nanoparticles in textile products has been widely used due to their broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and low toxicity towards mammalian cells. The aim of the current study is to synthesize and characterize a nanocomposite based on silver nanoparticles and carboxymethyl chitosan (AgNPs-CMC), which was utilized to provide a functional finish to cotton fabric. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) to produce a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) image showed that the nanocomposite presents AgNPs with a 5–20 nm size. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the presence of silver nanoparticles. The concentration of silver in the functionalized fabric was evaluated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), which reported an average concentration of 13.5 mg of silver per kg of functionalized fabric. SEM showed that silver nanoparticles present a uniform distribution on the surface of the functionalized cotton fabric fibers. On the other hand, by infrared spectroscopy, it was observed that the functionalized fabric variation (compared to control) had a displaced peak of intensity at 1594.32 cm−1, corresponding to carboxylate anions. Similarly, Raman spectroscopy showed an intense peak at 1592.84 cm−1, which corresponds to the primary amino group of carboxymethyl chitosan, and a peak at 1371.5 cm−1 corresponding to the carboxylic anions. Finally, the physical and mechanical tests of tensile strength and color index of the functional fabric reported that it was no different (p ˃ 0.05) than the control fabric. Our results demonstrate that we have obtained an improved functionalized cotton fabric using green chemistry that does not alter intrinsic properties of the fabric and has the potential to be utilized in the manufacturing of hospital garments.

Fabrication of Silver Nanoparticles Using Cordyline fruticosa L. Leave Extract Endowing Silk Fibroin Modified Viscose Fabric with Durable Antibacterial Property

The current work presented a green synthetic route for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles obtained from aqueous solutions of silver nitrate using Cordyline fruticosa L. leaf extract (Col) as a reducing and capping agent for the first time. The bio-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgCol) were investigated using UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The obtained data demonstrated that AgCol in spherical shape with an average size of 28.5 nm were highly crystalline and well capped by phytocompounds from the Col extract. Moreover, the bio-synthesized AgCol also exhibited the effective antibacterial activities against six pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Salmonella enterica (S. enterica), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). The AgCol were applied as an antibacterial finishing agent for viscose fabric using a pad-dry curing technique. The AgCol-treated viscose fabrics exhibited a good synergistic antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. Furthermore, the silk fibroin regenerated from Bombyx mori cocoon waste was utilized as an ecofriendly binder for the immobilization of AgCol on the viscose fabric. Thus, the antimicrobial efficacy of the AgCol and fibroin modified viscose fabric still reached 99.99% against the tested bacteria, even after 30 washing cycles. The colorimetric property, morphology, elemental composition, and distribution of AgCol on the treated fabrics were investigated using several analysis tools, including colorimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), Kjeldahl, and FTIR. Because of the excellent antimicrobial efficiency and laundering durability, as well as the green synthesis method, the AgCol and fibroin modified viscose fabric could be utilized as an antibacterial material in sportswear and medical textile applications.

Highly effective antibacterial AgNPs@hinokitiol grafted chitosan for construction of durable antibacterial fabrics

It has become a growing trend for the development of antibacterial fabrics of high effectiveness and durability without affecting their intrinsic wearability. Herein, a new antibacterial agent (AgNPs@HTCS) was prepared by grafting of natural hinokitiol (HT) onto chitosan (CS) via Mannich reaction, and then coordination of nano‑silver (AgNPs) via in-situ reduction. AgNPs@HTCS was applied for the construction of durable antibacterial fabrics. Results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration values of AgNPs@HTCS against S. aureus and E. coli reached 1.74 μg/mL and 5.28 μg/mL, respectively. AgNPs@HTCS solution at very low concentration of 0.25 g/L could impart antibacterial ratio above 99% against S. aureus and E. coli for cotton, silk, linen, and polyester fabrics. After 25 repeated washing recycles, the antibacterial ratios of the treated fabrics still retained higher than 95%. Compared with the untreated fabric, the handle, whiteness, and breaking strength of the antibacterial fabric had little change, and even the hydrophilcity improved to certain extent. The antibacterial fabric treated by AgNPs@HTCS was safe and had great application potential.

Ag/polydopamine-coated textile for enhanced liquid/liquid mixtures separation and dye removal

Engineering a versatile platform that enables to separate both oil/water and oil/oil mixtures and remove dye from water is not easy. To address this challenge, we have developed an Ag/polydopamine-coated textile (Ag/PDA@textile) by chemically depositing Ag particles on the textile surface using polydopamine as the binder layer. The obtained Ag/PDA@textile attracts water but repels oil in the air, underwater, and when immersed into the oil. Exploiting its water-attracting and oil resistance, the Ag/PDA@textile is acted as a separation membrane to separate oil/water mixtures with enhanced separation efficiency. The Ag/PDA@textile also possesses opposite wetting behavior to oils with different polarities, allowing it to separate oil/oil mixtures efficiently. Thanks to the catalytic performance of the Ag particle, organic dyes can be decomposed effectively by our Ag/PDA@textile under UV illustration or in the presence of NaBH₄. Our Ag/PDA@textile may be valuable for applications in water purification and oil sewage treatment.

In vivo assessment of the durable, green and in situ bio-functional cotton fabrics based carboxymethyl chitosan nanohybrid for wound healing application

Herein, a newly developed approach for durable antibacterial cotton fabrics coated carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCs) via ionic crosslinking driven by cationization of cotton surface (CC) with 3-chloro-2-hydroxyl propyl-trimethyl ammonium chloride (CHTAC). In this regard, the novelty was extended to impart a highly antibacterial activity through harnessing of the as-functionalized CMCs/CC in situ preparation of AgNPs, without using of hazardous reductants. The antibacterial activity of the in situ prepared AgNPs onto CMCs/CC as well as the in vivo study on the rat lab were investigated to evaluate their healing efficiency, pathological tissues and biomarkers. Results affirmed that the treatment of CC with 10% of CMCs was adequate to achieve the highest swelling ratio which, in turns, is able to in situ deposition of AgNPs with a size range of 2-10 nm onto CC/CMCs rendering them a highly durable antibacterial activity against both Gram +Ve and Gram -Ve bacteria, which had a bacterial reduction of 98% to 86% after 20 washing cycles. Furthermore, the in vivo study revealed effectively the advantageous uses of the cotton functionalized with AgNPs compared to CC/CMCs in wound healing via alleviating the oxidative stress and promoting hyaluronic acid in wounded skin as well as increasing RUNX2 in healed skin tissues.

Stabilization of Silver Nanoparticles on Polyester Fabric Using Organo-Matrices for Controlled Antimicrobial Performance

Antimicrobial textiles are helpful tools to fight against multidrug-resistant pathogens and nosocomial infections. The deposition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto textiles has been studied to achieve antimicrobial properties. Yet, due to health and environmental safety concerns associated with such formulations, processing optimizations have been introduced: biocompatible materials, environmentally friendly agents, and delivery platforms that ensure a controlled release. In particular, the functionalization of polyester (PES) fabric with antimicrobial agents is a formulation in high demand in medical textiles. However, the lack of functional groups on PES fabric hinders the development of cost-effective, durable systems that allow a controlled release of antimicrobial agents. In this work, PES fabric was functionalized with AgNPs using one or two biocompatible layers of chitosan or hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). The addition of organo-matrices stabilized the AgNPs onto the fabrics, protected AgNPs from further oxidation, and controlled their release. In addition, the layered samples were efficient against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The sample with two layers of chitosan showed the highest efficacy against S. aureus (log reduction of 2.15 ± 1.08 after 3 h of contact). Against E. coli, the sample with two layers of chitosan showed the best properties. Chitosan allowed to control the antimicrobial activity of AgNPs, avoid the complete loss of AgNPs after washings and act in synergy with AgNPs. After 3 h of incubation, this sample presented a log reduction of 4.81, and 7.27 of log reduction after 5 h of incubation. The antimicrobial results after washing showed a log reduction of 3.47 and 4.88 after 3 h and 5 h of contact, respectively. Furthermore, the sample with a final layer of HMDSO also presented a controlled antimicrobial effect. The antimicrobial effect was slower than the sample with just an initial layer of HMDSO, with a log reduction of 4.40 after 3 h of incubation (instead of 7.22) and 7.27 after 5 h. The biocompatibility of the composites was confirmed through the evaluation of their cytotoxicity towards HaCaT cells (cells viability > 96% in all samples). Therefore, the produced nanocomposites could have interesting applications in medical textiles once they present controlled antimicrobial properties, high biocompatibility and avoid the complete release of AgNPs to the environment.

Silver-based nanocomposite for fabricating high performance value-added cotton

Cotton is one of the most important cellulose fibers, but the absence of antimicrobial capacity along with the self-cleaning, UV protection and electric conductivity often frustrates its wider applications in many fields. Nanotechnology has provided new insights into the development of functional nanomaterials with unique chemical and physical properties. Silver has been effectively incorporated into the cotton fabrics as the antimicrobial agents due to the strong inhibitory and antimicrobial effects on a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi and virus with low toxicity to human being. In this review, a variety of strategies have been summarized to load silver on cotton fabrics in situ or ex situ and to fabricate high performance value-added cotton fabrics with self-cleaning, UV protection, electric conductivity and antimicrobial capability depending on the synthesis of silver coating or silver-based nanocomposite coating.

Microfluidic devices based on textile threads for analytical applications: state of the art and prospects

Microfluidic devices based on textile threads have interesting advantages when compared to systems made with traditional materials, such as polymers and inorganic substrates (especially silicon and glass). One of these significant advantages is the device fabrication process, made more cheap and simple, with little or no microfabrication apparatus. This review describes the fundamentals, applications, challenges, and prospects of microfluidic devices fabricated with textile threads. A wide range of applications is discussed, integrated with several analysis methods, such as electrochemical, colorimetric, electrophoretic, chromatographic, and fluorescence. Additionally, the integration of these devices with different substrates (e.g., 3D printed components or fabrics), other devices (e.g., smartphones), and microelectronics is described. These combinations have allowed the construction of fully portable devices and consequently the development of point-of-care and wearable analytical systems.

Chitosan Natural Polymer Material for Improving Antibacterial Properties of Textiles

In recent years, the textile industry has been seeking to develop innovative products. It is a good choice to organically combine materials with superior functional characteristics and commercial textiles to form products with excellent performance. In particular, textiles made of biological functional materials are often beneficial to human health, which is an interesting research direction. As a biopolymer material, chitosan has the advantages of strong availability, low cost, excellent safety, outstanding performance, etc., particularly the antibacterial property, and has broad application prospects in the textile field. This review provides an overview of the latest literature and summarizes recent innovations and state-of-the-art technologies that can add value to textiles. To this end, preparation of chitosan fiber, synthesis of chitosan nanofiber, antibacterial activity of chitosan fiber, antibacterial activity of chitosan nanofiber, etc., will be discussed. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects of chitosan-based materials used in textiles are evaluated. Importantly, this review can not only help researchers understand the development status of antibacterial textiles, but also help researchers discover and solve problems in this field through comparative reading.

Reducing end thiol-modified nanocellulose: Bottom-up enzymatic synthesis and use for templated assembly of silver nanoparticles into biocidal composite material

Nanoparticle-polymer composites are important functional materials but structural control of their assembly is challenging. Owing to its crystalline internal structure and tunable nanoscale morphology, cellulose is promising polymer scaffold for templating such composite materials. Here, we show bottom-up synthesis of reducing end thiol-modified cellulose chains by iterative bi-enzymatic β-1,4-glycosylation of 1-thio-β-d-glucose (10 mM), to a degree of polymerization of ∼8 and in a yield of ∼41% on the donor substrate (α-d-glucose 1-phosphate, 100 mM). Synthetic cellulose oligomers self-assemble into highly ordered crystalline (cellulose allomorph II) material showing long (micrometers) and thin nanosheet-like morphologies, with thickness of 5-7 nm. Silver nanoparticles were attached selectively and well dispersed on the surface of the thiol-modified cellulose, in excellent yield (≥ 95%) and high loading efficiency (∼2.2 g silver/g thiol-cellulose). Examined against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, surface-patterned nanoparticles show excellent biocidal activity. Bottom-up approach by chemical design to a functional cellulose nanocomposite is presented. Synthetic thiol-containing nanocellulose can expand the scope of top-down produced cellulose materials.

Synthesis and characterization of cotton-silver-graphene quantum dots (cotton/Ag/GQDs) nanocomposite as a new antibacterial nanopad

Appearance of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a convoluted topic, particularly in treating pestiferous immunodeficiency correlated diseases. The main objective of the current research is to fabricate antibacterial pads by utilizing of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) as a linker, stabilizing, and reduction agent of in situ synthesized Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on cotton pad. Five different antibacterial pads including cotton/Ag pad, cotton/GQDs/Ag pad, cotton/Ag/GQDs pad, cotton/GQDs/Ag/GQDs pad, and cotton/Ag/GQDs/Ag were fabricated and their antibacterial activities were compared to those of as-synthesized Ag/GQDs nanocomposites. The results indicate that cotton/GQDs/Ag pad shows a very promising minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of 0.09 and 0.01 against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Using GQDs as a linker (cotton/GQDs/Ag) and as a stabilizing agent (cotton/Ag/GQDs) significantly improves the antibacterial activity of Ag NPs.

The "Maskne" microbiome - pathophysiology and therapeutics

"Maskne" is a new term coined during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. It refers to a subset of acne mechanica, deserving consideration in view of widespread reusable fabric mask-wearing to control the pandemic worldwide. Understanding of underlying pathophysiology directly relates to the novel skin microenvironment and textile-skin friction created by mask-wearing, distinct from nontextile-related acne mechanica previously linked to wearing of headgear. Specifically, the occlusive microenvironment leads to microbiome dysbiosis, which is linked to various dermatological conditions. Additional textile-skin interactions include factors such as breathability, stickiness sensations, moisture saturation, and hygiene maintenance. Increased skin temperatures can trigger sweat/heat-related dermatoses, and ear loops potentially trigger pressure-induced dermatoses. Important therapeutic considerations include increased skin irritation potential of conventional acne treatments under occlusion, exacerbation of chronic dermatoses, that is, perioral dermatitis, rosacea, and eczema, and susceptibility of these same patient groups to heightened discomfort with mask-wearing. Cotton, as the traditional fabric of choice for dermatology patients, has limited benefits in the context of face masks - increased subjective discomfort relates to increased moisture saturation and stickiness, inevitable because of high biofluid load of the nasal and oral orifices. Prolonged textile-skin contact time, directly proportional to the risk of maskne, can be an opportunity for the application of biofunctional textiles.

Self-Cleaning Cotton Obtained after Grafting Thermoresponsive Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) through Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Although the performance of smart textiles would be enhanced if they could display self-cleaning ability toward various kinds of contamination, the procedures that have been used previously to impart the self-cleaning potential to these functional fabrics (solvent casting, dip coating, spin coating, surface crosslinking) have typically been expensive and/or limited by uncontrollable polymer thicknesses and morphologies. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of atomic transfer radical polymerization for the surface-initiated grafting of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam), a thermoresponsive polymer, onto cotton. We confirmed the thermoresponsiveness and reusability of the resulting fabric through water contact angle measurements and various surface characterization techniques (scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). Finally, we validated the self-cleaning performance of the fabric by washing away an immobilized fluorescent protein in deionized water under thermal stimulus. Fluorescence micrographs revealed that, after the fifth wash cycle, the fabric surface had undergone efficient self-cleaning of the stain, making it an effective self-cleaning material. This approach appears to have potential for application in the fields of smart textiles, responsive substrates, and functional fabrics.

Preparation, characterization and antibacterial mechanism of the chitosan coatings modified by Ag/ZnO microspheres

BACKGROUND

To improve the physicochemical and antibacterial properties of coatings, the chitosan (CS) coatings were respectively prepared by a casting method with zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver (Ag)/ZnO microspheres as modifiers. The chemical structures and micromorphology of ZnO, Ag/ZnO microspheres and CS coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Furthermore, using the dominant spoilage bacteria of aquatic products, Shewanella putrefaciens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as objects, the antibacterial activities and mechanism of the CS coatings were investigated.

RESULTS

The results show that ZnO and Ag/ZnO microspheres are dispersed homogeneously in the CS coatings. After modified by ZnO and Ag/ZnO microspheres, the mechanical properties and antibacterial abilities of the CS coatings are improved, and that of 0.5% Ag/ZnO-CS coating is the optimal. For pure CS coating, the bacterial cell membrane is damaged slightly because of the electrostatic interaction between NH³⁺ of CS and the negative charge on bacterial surface. After treated by ZnO-CS composite coating, the bacterial cell membrane is destroyed badly on account of the earlier-mentioned ion interaction and disturbing the synthesis of high molecular weight total protein.

CONCLUSION

With regard to Ag/ZnO-CS composite coating, the bacterial cell membrane is damaged seriously and cell contents are completely released due to ion interaction, disturbing the synthesis of high molecular weight total protein and low molecular weight membrane protein. Hence, Ag/ZnO-CS composite coatings are antimicrobial materials and food preservative materials with great potential application. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Sustainable Use of Nanomaterials in Textiles and Their Environmental Impact

At present, nanotechnology is a priority in research in several nations due to its massive capability and financial impact. However, due to the uncertainties and abnormalities in shape, size, and chemical compositions, the existence of certain nanomaterials may lead to dangerous effects on the human health and environment. The present review includes the different advanced applications of nanomaterials in textiles industries, as well as their associated environmental and health risks. The four main textile industry fields using nanomaterials, nanofinishing, nanocoatings, nanofibers, and nanocomposites, are analyzed. Different functional textiles with nanomaterials are also briefly reviewed. Most textile materials are in direct and prolonged contact with our skin. Hence, the influence of carcinogenic and toxic substances that are available in textiles must be comprehensively examined. Proper recognition of the conceivable benefits and accidental hazards of nanomaterials to our surroundings is significant for pursuing its development in the forthcoming years. The conclusions of the current paper are anticipated to increase awareness on the possible influence of nanomaterial-containing textile wastes and the significance of better regulations in regards to the ultimate disposal of these wastes.

Enzymatic preparation of oxidized viscose fibers-based biosorbent modified with ε-polylysine for dyes removal and microbial inactivation

A novel fiber-based biosorbent for dyes removal and microbial inactivation was prepared by enzymatic oxidization of viscose fibers and further modification with ε-polylysine. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was first employed as the enzyme for oxidation of viscose fibers. The consequences illustrated that the hydroxyl group on C1 position of viscose fibers was successfully oxidized with oxidation ratio of 2.43 ± 0.31%. Subsequently, ε-polylysine with average molecular weight of 4.44 ± 1.13 KDa and antimicrobial activity to E. coli of 90.48 ± 1.64 was modified with oxidized viscose fibers by lipase. Experimental results showed that oxidized viscose fibers were successfully modified with ε-polylysine with optimum degree of modification (DM) of 13.56 ± 1.05%. This oxidized viscose fiber modified with ε-polylysine (OVF-PL) displayed good dyes adsorption (or dyes removal) capacity for both anionic and cationic dyes, especially for anion dyes. Furthermore, OVF-PL showed excellent antimicrobial activity against E. coli and B. subtilis, particularly for E. coli, with GIB of 92.65%. Such fiber-based may offer a new pathway for preparing economical and efficient biosorbent for environmental remedy purpose.

Superior removal of inorganic and organic arsenic pollutants from water with MIL-88A(Fe) decorated on cotton fibers

Arsenic contamination has attracted worldwide concerns, owing to its toxicity and severe threat to human and environment. It is urgent to develop efficient adsorbents to remove arsenic pollutants. Within this paper, both pristine MIL-88A(Fe) and MIL-88A(Fe) decorated on cotton fibers were successfully fabricated using an eco-friendly method. The pristine MIL-88A(Fe) displayed outstanding adsorption performances towards four selected arsenic pollutants, in which the adsorption capacities toward As(III), As(V), ROX and ASA were 126.5, 164.0, 261.4 and 427.5 mg g^-1, respectively. Additionally, MIL-88A(Fe) exhibited excellent removal efficiencies in a wide pH range and with the presence of different co-existing ions. It was proposed that the coordinative interactions of As-O-Fe between arsenic pollutants and MIL-88A(Fe) contributed to the superior adsorption performances. Furthermore, two MIL-88A(Fe)/cotton fibers composites were synthesized by both post synthesis (MC-1) and in-situ synthesis (MC-2), which demonstrated identically outstanding adsorption activities toward four selected arsenic pollutants. MC-1 and MC-2 enhanced the stability and reusability of MIL-88A(Fe), which was challenging issues of pristine MIL-88A(Fe) powder. Additionally, the fixed-bed column packed by MC-1 or MC-2 can continuously eliminate arsenic pollutants from the water flow. This work provided a new possibility of metal-organic frameworks to accomplish potentially large-scale application to purify the arsenic-contaminated water.

Facile Route for Synthesis of Novel Flame Retardant, Reinforcement and Antibacterial Textile Fabrics Coatings

New and innovative textile fabrics coatings were facilely developed. The coating was developed based on synthesis of novel charring and antibacterial organic agent in conjunction with chitosan. N-[2,3-dibromo-4-(4-methoxy-3-methylphenyl)-4-oxobutanoyl]anthranilic acid was synthesized as organic antibacterial, reinforcement, and charring agent (OA) and then, dispersed in chitosan solution followed by coating on textile fabrics using immersion route forming new flame retardant coating layer. The developed organic molecule structure was elucidated using spectroscopic techniques. The mass loadings of developed organic agent dispersed in chitosan solution were varied between 20–60 wt.%. The coated textile fabrics have special surface morphology of fiber shape aligned on textile fibers surface. The thermal stability and charring residues of the coated textile fabrics were enhanced when compared to blank and organic agent free coated samples. Furthermore, the flammability properties were evaluated using LOI (limiting oxygen index) and UL94 tests. Therefore, the coated textile fabrics record significant enhancement in flame retardancy achieving first class flame retardant textile of zero mm/min rate of burning and 23.8% of LOI value compared to 118 mm/min. rate of burning and 18.2% for blank textile, respectively. The tensile strength of the coated textile fabrics was enhanced, achieving 51% improvement as compared to blank sample. Additionally, the developed coating layer significantly inhibited the bacterial growth, recording 18 mm of clear inhibition zone for coated sample when compared to zero for blank and chitosan coated ones.

Influence of Polysaccharides' Molecular Structure on the Antibacterial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Green Synthesized Composites Based on Silver Nanoparticles and Carboxymethyl-Cellulose

In this paper we report on the influence of polysaccharides' molecular structure on the antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of composites based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) immobilized into carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC). These composites were green synthesized from the reduction of silver ions into aqueous solutions of the polysaccharide, using CMC with different degree of substitution (DS) and molecular weight (Mw). The composites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as infrared (ATR-FTIR), ultraviolet (UV-Vis), Raman, and X-ray photo-electron (XPS) spectroscopic techniques. The antibacterial activity was evaluated with minimum inhibitory concentration against Enterococcus faecalis. The cytotoxicity of composites was assessed against human gingival fibroblast. Experimental evidence suggests that particle size distribution and morphology of AgNPs change according to the quantity of silver precursor added to the reaction, as well as the DS and Mw of CMC used for composites preparation. This is related to the dispersion of silver precursor into aqueous solutions of the polysaccharide and the formation of Ag-O coordination bonds among AgNPs and COO^- moieties of CMC. Moreover, these coordination bonds modify the ability of nanoparticles to produce and release Ag⁺ into aqueous dispersion, adjusting their antibacterial activity and the induction of cytotoxicity into the tested biological environments.

Antibacterial cotton fabrics via immobilizing silver phosphate nanoparticles onto the chitosan nanofiber coating

Development of chitosan nanofiber (CNF)/nano‑silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) coatings is reported for the fabrication of antibacterial cotton fabrics. The surface morphology and chemical composition were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. SEM results revealed that Ag3PO4 have formed micron-scale clusters and were not completely deposited on the fabric's surface whereas CNFs properly coated the fabric. However, once the hybrid of CNFs and Ag3PO4 was utilized, nanoparticles were better deposited on the fabric. The porous and nano-fibrous structure of CNFs provided an ideal substrate to which nanoparticles tightly adhered. The antibacterial activity of the as-synthesized Ag3PO4 nanoparticles was demonstrated by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Moreover, the antibacterial property of the coated fabrics was demonstrated by colony counting method and zone of inhibition (ZOI). The bacterial adhesion reductions for CNF/Ag3PO4 coated fabrics were obtained as 100 and 99.8% against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Moreover, ZOI was highly increased in the case of the hybrid coating. The results demonstrated the promising potential of CNF/Ag3PO4 coatings for the fabrication of antibacterial cotton fabrics to be used as antibacterial garments for clinical environments.

Eugenol nanocapsules embedded with gelatin-chitosan for chilled pork preservation

Chilled pork is widely consumed in China. However, various contaminants during storage directly lead to a decline in the quality of chilled pork products. An extract of natural plant sources, eugenol (Eug) exerts good antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Nanometerization was used in this study to improve the insoluble and volatile characteristics of Eug. Eug nanocapsules embedded with gelatin/chitosan (Eug-Gel-CS NPs) were used to preserve chilled pork. Results indicated that Eug-Gel-CS NPs could effectively inhibit increases in the pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) of chilled pork than that of the Eug group (p < 0.05). The L* and a* values of the Eug-Gel-CS NPs group were significantly higher than those of the Eug and gelatin-chitosan (CS-Gel) groups (p < 0.05). The total number of colonies (TBC) showed that the storage period of the Eug-Gel-CS NPs group could be extended to 15 d, which was significantly different from that of the CK group (8 d) (p < 0.05). The Eug-Gel-CS NPs also effectively delayed the decline in the water- holding capacity (WHC), springiness, and cohesiveness of the chilled pork. Therefore, Eug-Gel-CS NPs exert good antiseptic, antibacterial, and antioxidative effects on preserved chilled pork.

Fabrication of Biobased Hydrophobic Hybrid Cotton Fabrics Using Molecular Self-Assembly: Applications in the Development of Gas Sensor Fabrics

Inadvertent inhalation of various volatile organic compounds during industrial processes, such as coal and metal mining, metal manufacturing, paper and pulp industry, food processing, petroleum refining, and concrete and chemical industries, has caused an adverse effect on human health. In particular, exposure to trimethylamine (TMA), a fishy odor poisonous gas, resulted in numerous health hazards such as neurotoxicity, irritation in eyes, nose, skin, and throat, blurred vision, and many more. According to the environmental protection agency, TMA in the level of 0.10 ppm is generally considered as safe, and excess dose results in "trimethylaminuria" or "fish odor syndrome." In order to avoid the health hazards associated with the inhalation of TMA, there is an urge to design a sensor for TMA detection even at low levels for use in food-processing industries, medical diagnosis, and environment. In this report, for the first time, we have developed a TMA sensor fabric using a sequential self-assembly process from silver-incorporated glycolipids. Formation of self-assembled supramolecular architecture, interaction of the assembled structure with the cotton fabric, and sensing mechanism were completely investigated with the help of various instrumental methods. To our surprise, the developed fabric displayed a transient response for 1-500 ppm of TMA and a stable response toward 100 ppm of TMA for 15 days. We believe that the reported flexible TMA sensor fabrics developed via the sequential self-assembly process hold great promise for various innovative applications in environment, healthcare, medicine, and biology.