An artificial molecular machine that builds an asymmetric catalyst

peer reviewe

Modifying of Cotton Fabric Surface with Nano-ZnO Multilayer Films by Layer-by-Layer Deposition Method

<p>Abstract</p> <p>ZnO nanoparticle&#8211;based multilayer nanocomposite films were fabricated on cationized woven cotton fabrics via layer-by-layer molecular self-assembly technique. For cationic surface charge, cotton fabrics were pretreated with 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (EP3MAC) by pad-batch method. XPS and SEM were used to examine the deposited nano-ZnO multilayer films on the cotton fabrics. The nano-ZnO films deposited on cotton fabrics exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against <it>Staphylococcus aureus</it> bacteria. The results also showed that the coated fabrics with nano-ZnO multilayer films enhanced the protection of cotton fabrics from UV radiation. Physical tests (tensile strength of weft and warp yarns, air permeability and whiteness values) were performed on the fabrics before and after the treatment with ZnO nanoparticles to evaluate the effect of layer-by-layer (LbL) process on cotton fabrics properties.</p

Layer-by-layer assembly for biofunctionalization of cellulosic fibers with emergent antimicrobial agents

Series title: Advances in polymer science series, ISSN 0065-3195, vol. 271Coating with polyelectrolyte multilayers has become a generic way to functionalize a variety of materials. In particular, the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique allows the coating of solid surfaces to give them several functionalities, including controlled release of bioactive agents. At present there are a large number of applications of the LbL technique; however, it is still little explored in the area of textiles. In this review we present an overview of LbL for textile materials made from synthetic or natural fibers. More specifically, LbL is presented as a method for obtaining new bioactive cotton (as in cellulosic fibers) for potential application in the medical field. We also review recent progress in the embedding of active agents in adsorbed multilayers as a novel way to provide the system with a “reservoir” where bioactive agents can be loaded for subsequent release.The authors would like to thank Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) for the funding granted for the project PTDC/EBB-BIO/113671/2009 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER- 014752) Skin2Tex. Also, we would like to thank Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) through COMPETE – Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade (POFC) for co-funding