Revolutionary textiles: A philosophical inquiry on electronic and reactive textiles

Often qualified as “revolutionary,” electronic and reactive textiles are promising to bring wide-reaching changes to our existence: from the way we dress to the way we communicate, from the way we sense and are sensed to the way we build and use textiles as substrates for new applications. From a philosophical perspective, this article explores the revolutionary character of electronic and reactive textiles—in other words, what about them is “revolutionary?” Corollary questions include, “What do electronic and reactive textiles revolutionize?” and “What is it to revolutionize?” or more precisely, “What exactly is expected to be revolutionized when it comes to textiles?” The article emphasizes that with electronic and reactive textiles we are confronted with a new understanding of matter (and implicitly with new ways to manipulate and use it). The article also addresses the ways digitization not only affects the constitution of new objects (interactive objects/devices) but also produces changes in the industrial forms of production. Last but not least, we argue that the innovation aspects related to the development of new materials and their forms of production have to be addressed on different scales, by following trans-disciplinary approaches within a deliberate framework of philosophical questioning

Acid–Base Polymeric Foams for the Adsorption of Micro-oil Droplets from Industrial Effluents

Separation of toxic organic pollutants from industrial effluents is a great environmental challenge. Herein, an acid–base engineered foam is employed for separation of micro-oil droplets from an aqueous solution. In acidic or basic environments, acid–base polymers acquire surface charge due to protonation or dissociation of surface active functional groups. This property is invoked to adsorb crude oil microdroplets from water using polyester polyurethane (PESPU) foam. The physicochemical surface properties of the foam were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inverse gas chromatography, electrokinetic analysis, and micro-computed tomography. Using the surface charge of the foam and oil droplets, the solution pH (5.6) for maximum separation efficacy was predicted. This optimal pH was verified through underwater wetting behavior and adsorption experiments. The droplet adsorption onto the foam was governed by physisorption, and the driving forces were attributed to electrostatic attraction and Lifshitz–van der Waals forces. The foam was regenerated and reused multiple times by simple compression. The lowest trace oil content in the retentate was 3.6 mg L^–1, and all oil droplets larger than 140 nm were removed. This work lays the foundation for the development of a new class of engineered foam adsorbents with the potential to revolutionize water treatment technologies

In Situ and Real-Time Studies, via Synchrotron X‑ray Scattering, of the Orientational Order of Cellulose Nanocrystals during Solution Shearing

In this manuscript, we report on the ordering of the cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as they experience shear forces during the casting process. To achieve these measurements, in situ and in real time, we used synchrotron-based grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAX). We believe that the GIWAX technique, although not commonly used to probe these types of phenomena, can open new avenues to gain deeper insights into film formation processes and surface-driven phenomena. In particular, we investigated the influence of solution concentration, shear-cast velocity, and drying temperature on the ordering of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) using GIWAXS. The films were prepared from aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals at two concentration values (7 and 9 wt %). As the films were cast, the X-ray beam was focused on a fixed position and GIWAXS patterns were recorded at regular time intervals. Structural characterization of the dry films was carried out via polarized optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, a rheological study of the CNC suspensions was performed. Our results show that the morphology of the CNC films was significantly influenced by shear velocity, concentration of the precursor suspension, and evaporation temperature. In contrast, we observed that the orientation parameter of the films was not significantly affected. The scattering intensity of the peak (200) was analyzed as a function of time, following a sigmoidal profile, hence indicating short- and long-range interactions within the anisotropic domains as they reached their final orientation state. A model capable of describing the resulting film morphologies is also proposed. The results and analysis presented in this manuscript provide new insights into the controlled alignment of cellulose nanocrystals under shear. This controlled alignment has significant implications in the development of advanced coatings and films currently used in a myriad of applications, such as catalysis, optics, electronics, and biomedicine

Cotton Fabric Functionalized with a β‑Cyclodextrin Polymer Captures Organic Pollutants from Contaminated Air and Water

Cotton fabric is covalently functionalized with a porous β-cyclodextrin polymer by including the fabric in the polymerization mixture. The resulting functionalized fabric (CD-TFP@cotton) sequesters organic micropollutants, such as bisphenol A, from water with outstanding speed and a capacity 10-fold higher than that of untreated cotton. The functionalized fabric also readily captures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the vapor phase more quickly and with a capacity higher than that of untreated cotton as well as three commercially available fabric-based adsorbents. Volatile adsorbed pollutants were fully extracted from CD-TFP@cotton under reduced pressure at room temperature, permitting simple reuse. These properties make cotton functionalized with the cyclodextrin polymer of interest for water purification membranes, odor controlling fabrics, and respirators that control exposure to VOCs. This functionalization approach is scalable, likely to be amenable to other fibrous substrates, and compatible with existing fiber manufacturing techniques

General methodology of integrative, cell based transport modeling.

<p><b>A</b>) For computational simulations at the cellular level, a monobasic compound diffuses across a phospholipid bilayer and undergoes ionization and partition/binding in each compartment. The neutral form of the monobasic molecule is indicated as [M], and the protonated, cationic form of the molecule is indicated as [MH⁺]. <b>B</b>) For computational simulations at the histological level, each airway generation is modeled as a tube lined by epithelial cells; as molecules are absorbed over time, the drug concentration in the lumen decreases accompanied by an increase in drug concentration in the circulation <b>C</b>) For computational simulations at the organ level, the lung is modeled as a branching tree, with airway generation modeled as a cylinder, from the trachea to the alveoli. <b>D</b>) Experimental design of insert system with patterned pore arrays on membrane support for viewing lateral transport of fluorescent molecules along the plane of a cell monolayer, away from a point source. <b>E</b>) Transmitted light image of a 5×5, 3 µm diameter pore array (20 µm spacing) on a polyester membrane. <b>F</b>) Transmitted light image of an MDCK cell monolayer above a membrane support with 3×3, 3 µm diameter pore array (40 µm spacing). Scale bar: 40 µm. <b>G</b>) 3D reconstruction of confocal images of the distribution of three fluorescent probes added to the uppermost surface of NHBE cell multilayers grown on air-liquid interface cultures on porous membrane support. Each 3D plane is composed of the image with the fluorescent channel; red (MTR), blue (Hoe), and green (LTG). <b>H</b>) Illustration of the tiling algorithm used to visualize and quantify the distribution of Hoe and MTR in lung cryosections, after IT and IV coadministration of the probes.</p

Probing the intracellular retention of MTR along the plane of a cell monolayer.

<p>Cell monolayers on pore arrays were incubated for 2 hr with Hoe and MTR in the basolateral compartment. White spots indicate the location of pores; Scale bar: 20 µm. <b>A</b>) Fluorescent image acquired with the DAPI channel showing Hoe diffusing on a cell monolayer sitting on top of a single pore of a 3×3 array of 3 µm pores with 160 µm spacing; <b>B</b>) Same field as in A, visualized with the TRITC channel to show the staining of MTR; <b>C</b>) Overlay of A and B showing the overlapping Hoe (blue) and MTR (red) staining patterns. <b>D</b>) Plots of the fluorescence intensity of Hoe and MTR, separated by 0, 1, 2 or 3 layers of cells from a pore, and normalized by the fluorescence intensity of the cell closest to the pore; asterisk indicates a statistically significant difference using Student's T-test; p<0.05; n = 6).</p

Results of parameter exchange analysis.

<p>Table indicates the direction in which the exposure (AUC) of MTR changes after IT instillation, upon exchanging the indicated parameter values between airway and alveoli. A plus indicates an increase, while a minus indicates a decrease in AUC relative to the baseline lung model parameters. One plus or minus sign corresponds to a 1.1 to 1.5 fold change in AUC; two plus or minus signs to a 1.5 to 2 fold change; and three plus or minus signs to a >5 fold change. For clearance, the parameter value was increased 10-fold.</p

Tiled fluorescent micrographs of coronal cryosections obtained from the left lungs of mice.

<p>Mice received either an IV (A, C, E, G) or IT (B, D, F, H) dose of a mixture of Hoe and MTR. <b>A</b>) DAPI channel fluorescence image showing Hoe distribution following IV administration; <b>B</b>) DAPI channel fluorescence image showing Hoe distribution following IT administration; <b>C</b>) High magnification view of the boxed region in A; <b>D</b>) High magnification view of the boxed region in B; <b>E</b>) TRITC channel fluorescence image showing MTR distribution following IV administration; <b>F</b>) TRITC channel fluorescence image showing MTR distribution following IT administration; <b>G</b>) High magnification view of the boxed region in E; <b>H</b>) High magnification view of the boxed region in F. Scale bar = 1 mm. Asterisks mark the cross-sections of the airways, apparent as ellipsoids at high magnification.</p

Virtual screening of monobasic compounds based differential tissue distribution in the airways and alveoli.

<p>The combinations of log<i>P_n</i> and pK_a were used as input. For simulations, the initial dose was set to 1 mg/kg for airways and alveoli. Contour lines indicate: <b>A</b>) The calculated AUC (unit: mg/ml*min) in airways; <b>B</b>) The AUC (unit: mg/ml*min) in alveoli; <b>C</b>) The AUC contrast ratio of airways to alveoli; <b>D</b>) The mass percentage (%) in alveoli relative to the total mass in lung; <b>E</b>) The mass percentage (%) in airways relative to the total mass in lung; <b>F</b>) The mass ratio of alveoli to airway. Matlab scripts used to generate plots A–C (<a href="http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002378#pcbi.1002378.s001" target="_blank">Text S1</a>) and D–F (<a href="http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002378#pcbi.1002378.s002" target="_blank">Text S2</a>) are included in the supplementary materials.</p

Fluorescent confocal images of NHBE cell multilayers on the porous membrane with Z-stacks.

<p>Cell multilayers were stained with MTR, Hoe and LTG. Each compartment (membrane inserts (bottom), inner cell layers, surface cell layer, and apical compartment (top)) through z-axis were indicated with the red arrows in x–z planes while cell nuclei and cytoplasm in x–y planes. The panel to the left shows an x, y cross section through the apical surface layer of the cell multilayer. The panel to the right shows an x, y cross section through the inner cell layer of the cell multilayer. Scale bar: 20 µm.</p