Improving ultraviolet protection properties of cotton textiles using Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials: an approach for controlling occupational and environmental exposures

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure is one of the most important risk factor among workers. it may stimulate health outcomes such as multiple skin injuries and blinding eye diseases. So, UV protection is mainly important for people who expose to it. Modification of cotton textiles by nanomaterials is a new approach to overcome this problem. So, the aim of this study is to review studies conducted on using ZnO nanoparticles for improving ultraviolet protection of cotton textiles. The search strategy was provided by cochrane guideline. 45 studies were regarded as appropriate. The results show that UPF for textiles has improved by coated ZnO. However, UPF was depended on the physicochemical characteristics of ZnO and textiles such as yarn structure, effect of woven fabric construction, fabric porosity, and impurity of textiles and laundering conditions. Also, plasma technology has improved UPF, it is recommended that more studies be done to achieve better results.

Vinylated Modification of Biophytic Acid and Flame-Retardant/Crease-Proofing Finishing of Cotton Fabrics via In Situ Copolymerization

The vinyl phytic acid (GPA) was prepared using biophytic acid (PA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), in which double bonds were introduced into the phytic acid molecule to increase the active groups in the phytic acid molecule. Furthermore, itaconic acid (IA) containing two unsaturated double bonds and GPA was polymerized in situ and crosslinked on the surface of cotton fabrics, and flame retardant and crease-proofed fabrics were obtained. The effects of GPA, IA, and the initiator on the flame-retardant and crease-proofing properties of the fabrics were analyzed by a single-factor and double-dip double-nip experiment. A flame-retardant and wrinkle-resistant fabric was obtained when the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and wrinkle recovery angle (WRA) were 28% and 270°, respectively. During combustion, the thermal properties of the fabrics changed; typically, the extrapolated initial temperature (Te) decreased, and moisture release increased. After burning, the fabrics had good shape retention, and the carbon residue content increased to 48%, which effectively inhibited or slowed down the combustion and heat release of the textiles. However, the whiteness, mechanical properties, and washability of the products need to be further improved.

Scalable Fabrication of Highly Breathable Cotton Textiles with Stable Fluorescent, Antibacterial, Hydrophobic, and UV-Blocking Performance

Multifunctional cotton textiles that are highly breathable are desirable in a broad range of applications. However, it is still a big challenge to scale up production of such multifunctional cotton textiles. Herein, we developed a simple, scalable, and benign strategy to fabricate highly breathable multifunctional cotton textiles via mild surface modification. The 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) ring and gentamycin sulfate (GS) molecules were firmly attached to the cellulose chains under room temperature via a one-pot method. The resulting modified cotton textile showed integrated performances with bright fluorescence, good antibacterial behavior, hydrophobic behavior (contact angle of 134°), and UV-blocking (UPF being up to 69.2), which are very stable toward washing and various solvents. There is no obvious change in the whiteness, thermal stability, and mechanical performance of cotton fabrics after the surface modification. What's more, the air permeability of the modified cotton fabric was up to 31.3 (cm3/cm2)/s. This study not only focuses on the materials design and large-scale fabrication but also provides stable and multifunctional cotton textiles with broad application prospects for many fields.

Use of Cotton Textiles Coated by Ir(III) Tetrazole Complexes within Ceramic Silica Nanophases for Photo-Induced Self-Marker and Antibacterial Application

This study was aimed at the production and characterization of coated cotton textiles with luminescent ceramic nanophases doped with cationic Ir(III) tetrazole complexes. We confirmed that SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) do not affect the phosphorescent properties of the complexes that maintain their emission (610 and 490 nm). For the first time we transferred the luminescence feature from nanosol to textile surface, highlighting the advantages of using nanosilica as an encapsulating and stabilizing matrix. The optimized Ir@SiO₂ suspensions were homogenously applied onto the cotton surface by dip-pad-dry-cure technique, as proved by the 2p-fluorescence microscope analysis. Once we verified the self-marker properties of the Ir(III) complex, we observed an excellent washing fastness of the coating with a very limited release. SiO₂ in the washing water was quantified at maximum around 1.5 wt% and Ir below the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) detection limit of 1 ppm. A Franz cell test was used to evaluate any possible ex-vivo uptake of Ir@SiO₂ nanoparticles across human skin tissues, showing that epidermis and dermis stop over 99% of Ir, implying a reduced impact on human health. The light-induced antimicrobial potential of the Ir@SiO₂ were assessed toward both Gram(−) and Gram(+) bacteria. The results encouraged further developments of such functional textiles coated by self-markers and antibacterial active nanophases.

Stereochemical Strategy Advances Microbially Antiadhesive Cotton Textile in Safeguarding Skin Flora

Microbial contamination on cotton textiles (CT) negatively affects people's health as well as the textile itself during use and storage. Using antimicrobial CT in a body-safe manner is currently still a challenge because it is difficult to balance killing microbes and protecting skin flora. Herein, a borneol-decorated CT (BDCT) through coupling of borneol 4-formylbenzoate molecules onto the amino-modified CT is reported. This BDCT shows strong and broad-spectrum microbially antiadhesive activities against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis), gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and fungi (Aspergillus niger, Mucor racemosus, and Candida albicans). Because of its unique stereochemical microbial antiadhesion mechanism, BDCT is harmless to skin flora. In addition, BDCT exhibits prominent durability of microbially antiadhesive capability by bearing 50 times of accelerated laundering. Therefore, this stereochemical BDCT strategy shows great potential for applications in the new generation of textiles, food packaging, and medical protection.

Durable Antibacterial and Nonfouling Cotton Textiles with Enhanced Comfort via Zwitterionic Sulfopropylbetaine Coating

A rapid, environment-friendly, and cost-effective finishing method has been developed for cotton textiles by using zwitterionic NCO-sulfopropylbetaine as the antibacterial finishing agent through covalent bond. The sulfopropylbetaine-finished cotton textile exhibits durable broad-spectrum antibacterial and nonfouling activity, improved mechanical properties, and enhanced comfort.

Preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces on cotton textiles

Superhydrophobic surfaces were fabricated by the complex coating of silica nanoparticles with functional groups onto cotton textiles to generate a dual-size surface roughness, followed by hydrophobization with stearic acid, 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane or their combination. The wettability and morphology of the as-fabricated surfaces were investigated by contact angle measurement and scanning electron microscopy. Characterizations by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis were also conducted.