Multifunctional Finishing of Cotton Fabric with Curcumin Derivatives Coatings Obtained by Sol-Gel Method

Therapeutic textiles: A promising approach for human skin dysbiosis?

The close interaction between skin and clothing has become an attractive cornerstone for the development of therapeutic textiles able to alleviate skin disorders, namely those correlated to microbiota dysregulation. Skin microbiota imbalance is known in several skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD), psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, acne and hidradenitis suppurative (HS). Such microbiota dysregulation is usually correlated with inflammation, discomfort and pruritus. Although conventional treatments, that is, the administration of steroids and antibiotics, have shown some efficacy in treating and alleviating these symptoms, there are still disadvantages that need to be overcome. These include their long-term usage with side effects negatively impacting resident microbiota members, antibiotic resistance and the elevated rate of recurrence. Remarkably, therapeutic textiles as a non-pharmacological measure have emerged as a promising strategy to treat, alleviate the symptoms and control the severity of many skin diseases. This systematic review showcases for the first time the effects of therapeutic textiles on patients with skin dysbiosis, focusing on efficacy, safety, adverse effects and antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The main inclusion criteria were clinical trials performed in patients with skin dysbiosis who received treatment involving the use of therapeutic textiles. Although there are promising outcomes regarding clinical parameters, safety and adverse effects, there is still a lack of information about the impact of therapeutic textiles on the skin microbiota of such patients. Intensive investigation and corroboration with clinical trials are needed to strengthen, define and drive the real benefit and the ideal biomedical application of therapeutic textiles.

Ag0-Ginger Nanocomposites Integrated into Natural Hydrogelated Matrices Used as Antimicrobial Delivery Systems Deposited on Cellulose Fabrics

In the textile, medical, and food industries, many of the applications have targeted the use of textile fabrics with antimicrobial properties. Obtaining eco-friendly coatings is of wide interest, especially for applications related to wound dressing or to food packaging. In order to obtain coatings with antimicrobial properties through environmentally friendly methods, a series of experiments were carried out on the use of natural polymers loaded with silver nanoparticles. In this study, coatings with antimicrobial properties were obtained by depositing natural composites based on rice flour, carob flour, or alginate on cotton fabrics. These antimicrobial coatings were multicomponent systems, in which the host matrix was generated via hydration of natural polymers. The nanocomposite obtained from the phytosynthesis of silver particles in ginger extract was embedded in hydrogel matrices. The multicomponent gels obtained by embedding silver nanoparticles in natural polymer matrices were deposited on cotton fabric and were studied in relation to nanoparticles and the type of host matrix, and the antimicrobial activity was evaluated. Fabrics coated with such systems provide a hydrophilic surface with antimicrobial properties and can therefore be used in various areas where textiles provide antibacterial protection.

Cellulose Fabrics Functionalized with Sol-Gel Photocatalytic Coatings Based on Iron (III) Phthalocyanine Tetracarboxylic Acids-TiO2-Silica Hybrids

Photocatalytic coatings are difficult to obtain on textile materials because of the sometimes contradictory properties that must be achieved. In order to obtain a high efficiency of a photocatalytic effect, the metal-oxide semiconductor must be found in the vicinity of the coating-air interface in order to come into direct contact with the contaminant species and allow light radiation access to its surface. Another necessary condition is related to the properties of the covering textile material as well as to the stability of the xerogel films to light and wet treatments. In this sense, we proposed a solution based on hybrid silica films generated by sol-gel processes, coatings that contain as a photocatalyst TiO2 sensitized with tetracarboxylic acid of iron (III) phthalocyanine (FeTCPc). The coatings were made by the pad-dry-cure process, using in the composition a bifunctional anchoring agent (3-glycidoxipropyltrimethoxysilane, GLYMO), a crosslinking agent (sodium tetraborate, BORAX), and a catalyst (N-methylimidazole, MIM) for the polymerization of epoxy groups. The photodegradation experiments performed on methylene blue (MB), utilized as a model contaminant, using LED or xenon arc as light sources, showed that the treatment with BORAX improves the resistance of the coatings to wet treatments but worsens their photocatalytic performances.

Enhancing Therapeutic Efficacy of Curcumin: Advances in Delivery Systems and Clinical Applications

Curcumin, a potent active compound found in turmeric and Curcuma xanthorrhiza oil, possesses a wide range of therapeutic properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healing activities. However, its clinical effectiveness is hindered by its low bioavailability and rapid elimination from the body. To overcome these limitations, researchers have explored innovative delivery systems for curcumin. Some promising approaches include solid lipid nanoparticles, nanomicelle gels, and transdermal formulations for topical drug delivery. In the field of dentistry, curcumin gels have shown effectiveness against oral disorders and periodontal diseases. Moreover, Pickering emulsions and floating in situ gelling systems have been developed to target gastrointestinal health. Furthermore, curcumin-based systems have demonstrated potential in wound healing and ocular medicine. In addition to its therapeutic applications, curcumin also finds use as a food dye, contraception aid, corrosion-resistant coating, and environmentally friendly stain. This paper primarily focuses on the development of gel compositions of curcumin to address the challenges associated with its clinical use.