Coloration of PLA/modified montmorillonite nanocomposite fibres with acid and basic dyes

The dyeable poly (lactic acid) (PLA) has been prepared based on the fundamental of nanotechnology. PLA is melt-mixedwith montmorillonite (MMT) and quaternary ammonium compound using twin-screw extruder to achieve PLA/modified MMTnanocomposite. The nanocomposite fibre is then prepared using single-screw extruder for further investigations includingdyeability, structural analysis, and thermal properties. The results show that the nanocomposite fibre is dyeable with both aciddyes (anionic dyes) and basic dyes (cationic dyes) due to the presence of dye sites, quaternary ammonium cation and anioniccharge of MMT particles respectively. The color strength is found to be dependent on the amounts of quaternary ammoniumcompound as well as MMT applied. The fastness properties such as wash fastness and light fastness show similar trend as foundin the traditional fibres. It is observed that the thermal stability of the nanocomposite fibre is lower than that of neat PLA fibre.This study demonstrates that PLA can exhibit the dyeability in the form of nanocomposite

Double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, using a nitric oxide releasing patch: PATHON

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetes Mellitus constitutes one of the most important public health problems due to its high prevalence and enormous social and economic consequences. Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus and constitute the most important cause of non-traumatic amputation of inferior limbs. It is estimated that 15% of the diabetic population will develop an ulcer sometime in their lives. Although novel therapies have been proposed, there is no effective treatment for this pathology. Naturally produced nitric oxide participates in the wound healing process by stimulating the synthesis of collagen, triggering the release of chemotactic cytokines, increasing blood vessels permeability, promoting angiogenic activity, stimulating the release of epidermical growth factors, and by interfering with the bacterial mitochondrial respiratory chain. Topically administered nitric oxide has demonstrated to be effective and safe for the treatment of chronic ulcers secondary to cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, due to their unstable nitric oxide release, the topical donors needed to be applied frequently, diminishing the adherence to the treatment. This difficulty has led to the development of a multilayer polymeric transdermal patch produced by electrospinning technique that guarantees a constant nitric oxide release. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this novel nitric oxide releasing wound dressing for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.</p> <p>Methods and design</p> <p>A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, including 100 diabetic patients was designed. At the time of enrollment, a complete medical evaluation and laboratory tests will be performed, and those patients who meet the inclusion criteria randomly assigned to one of two groups. Over the course of 90 days group 1 will receive active patches and group 2 placebo patches. The patients will be seen by the research group at least every two weeks until the healing of the ulcer or the end of the treatment. During each visit the healing process of the ulcer, the patient's health status and the presence of adverse events will be assessed. Should the effectiveness of the patches be demonstrated an alternative treatment would then be available to patients.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT00428727.</p

Coloration of PLA/modified montmorillonite nanocomposite fibres with acid and basic dyes

369-374The dyeable poly (lactic acid) (PLA) has been prepared based on the fundamental of nanotechnology. PLA is melt-mixed with montmorillonite (MMT) and quaternary ammonium compound using twin-screw extruder to achieve PLA/modified MMT nanocomposite. The nanocomposite fibre is then prepared using single-screw extruder for further investigations including dyeability, structural analysis, and thermal properties. The results show that the nanocomposite fibre is dyeable with both acid dyes (anionic dyes) and basic dyes (cationic dyes) due to the presence of dye sites, quaternary ammonium cation and anionic charge of MMT particles respectively. The color strength is found to be dependent on the amounts of quaternary ammonium compound as well as MMT applied. The fastness properties such as wash fastness and light fastness show similar trend as found in the traditional fibres. It is observed that the thermal stability of the nanocomposite fibre is lower than that of neat PLA fibre. This study demonstrates that PLA can exhibit the dyeability in the form of nanocomposite

Chitosan-Coated Bacterial Cellulose (BC)/Hydrolyzed Collagen Films and Their Ascorbic Acid Loading/Releasing Performance: A Utilization of BC Waste from Kombucha Tea Fermentation

SCOBY bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biological macromolecule (considered as a by-product) that grows at the liquid&ndash;air interface during kombucha tea fermentation. In this study, BC:HC (hydrolyzed collagen) blend films coated with 1 wt% chitosan (CS) were loaded with ascorbic acid to study loading/releasing performance. At first, the mechanical properties of the blend films were found to be dependent on HC ratio. After chitosan coating, the coated films were stronger due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction and the miscibility of two matrixes at the interface. The antibacterial activity test according to the AATCC Test Method revealed that chitosan-coated BC/HC films exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against S.aureus growth from the underneath and the above film when compared to BC and BC:HC films. Moreover, chitosan was attractive to ascorbic acid during drug loading. Consequently, its releasing performance was very poor. For BC:HC blend films, ascorbic acid loading/releasing performance was balanced by water swellability, which was controlled using blending formulation and coating. Another advantage of BC films and BC:HC blend films was that they were able to maintain active ascorbic acid for a long period of time, probably due to the presence of plenty of BC hemiacetal reducing ends (protective group)

Characterization of Eri Silk Fabrics Dyed with Fermented Banana Trunk Bio-Extract

This research aims to study the characterization of Eri silk fabrics dyed with fermented banana trunk bio-extract (FBTBe). The ratios of FBTBe to water were 25:75, 50:50 and 75:25 (v/v) at 30, 60 and 90 minutes for dyeing. The result revealed when the amount of FBTBe increased, the yellow value increased. Moreover, Eri silk fabrics processed with dyeing times at 60 and 90 minutes at 75:25 concentration were found to have the highest value of yellow (p ≤ .05). The colorfastness to washing with soap test found that the color change in all concentration ratios at the 60 minutes, more than 3.00. The colorfastness to perspiration test found the color change value of the dyed Eri silk fabrics was an acceptable value of more than 3.00. As for the colorfastness to hot pressing test, all treatments showed that the mean color change values more than 3.00. Moreover, the tearing strength, the results demonstrated that the Eri silk fabrics processed with all conditions were not significantly when compared with pre-dyed Eri silk (p > .05). The functional groups of the dyed Eri silk were investigated using FTIR. The results revealed no differences in the characteristic IR peaks of functional groups present in all treatments

Fashion accessory products design from handspun mulberry and cotton blended yarn: Mechanical characteristics and consumer response

AbstractThe purpose of this research was to investigate the composition ratios and mechanical qualities of handspun yarn made from mulberry and cotton blended fibers for textile craft, design fashion products made from handspun yarn, and evaluate the target group’s opinions on the fashion products. Using the mixed methods research approach, this study integrated both experimental and quantitative research. The results revealed that handspun mulberry and cotton fibers blended yarn at the ratio of 40:60 had the most disorganized fibers and the highest crimp level. However, the four varied composition ratios of these two types of fibers had no significant effect on the fiber weight and yarn count of the handspun yarn (p > 0.05). In terms of mechanical qualities, the 40:60 handspun yarn had the highest tensile strength and tenacity (p > 0.05) compared to pure cotton handspun yarn. The elongation property of the 20:80 blended mulberry and cotton fiber yarn was determined to be the highest. The target group, which included experts, community members, and consumer perspectives, had the highest level of agreement. Textiles produced from Mulberry fiber, an agricultural waste, have the potential to revitalize weaving communities. This research is also valuable to cotton weaving communities, textile designers, and artists

Green Composites Based on PLA and Cotton Fabric Waste: Preparation and Characterization

Textile waste, from both consumption and production, has dramatically increased due to a lack of diversification in its use. Increasing the number of textile alternatives can help to solve these problems. Producing a green composite product is an interesting alternative method. The objectives of this work were to study the preparation and characterization of green composites created from PLA and cotton fabric waste (CFW) and to consider the effect of the CFW content on the composites. The procedure of the research began with CFW pellets preparation; this was subsequently compounded with PLA pellets using a melt-mixing technique with a twin-screw extruder at ratios of 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30 wt% between the PLA and cotton fabric waste, respectively. Then, the testing specimens were produced by compression molding. The experiments demonstrated that an increase in the CFW caused an increase in the viscosity, stiffness, Tg, Tm, and water absorption of the composites. The decomposition temperature of the composites showed a range of 302.41 to 361.22 °C; this decreased when the CFW increased. An increase in the CFW also produced greater and clearer phase separation and roughness on the fracture surface area

A Controlled, Randomized-Blinded Clinical Trial to Assess the Efficacy of a Nitric Oxide Releasing Patch in the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis by Leishmania (V.) panamensis

A topical nanofiber nitric oxide (NO) releasing patch (≈3.5 μmol NO/cm2/day for 20 days, NOP) was compared with intramuscular meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime, 20 mg/kg/day for 20 days) for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania (V.) panamensis in Santander and Tolima, Colombia. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was conducted to determine whether the NOP is as effective as Glucantime for the treatment of CL. Patients were randomly assigned to Glucantime and placebo patches or NOP and placebo of Glucantime. The cure rates after a 3-month follow-up were 94.8% for the group that received Glucantime compared with 37.1% in the NOP group. Despite the lower efficacy of the NOP versus Glucantime, a significantly lower frequency of non-serious adverse events and a reduced variation in serum markers were observed in patients treated with NOP. Treatment of CL with NOP resulted in a lower effectiveness compared with Glucantime; however, the low frequency of adverse events and the facility of topic administration justify the development of new generations of NOP systems for the treatment of CL