A stimuli-responsive cotton fabric with controlled antimicrobial properties was prepared using temperature- and pH-responsive microgels based on poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) and chitosan (PNCS) in combination with biological-barrier (bio-barrier) forming polysiloxane matrices (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride (Si-QAC). A two-step application process was used, where PNCS microgel was applied to cotton cellulose firstly, followed by the deposition of APTES in concentrations of 0.5, 2 and 4% or Si-QAC of 0.5% secondly. Morphological and chemical changes in the functionalized samples were studied by SEM and FT-IR, and the influence of the polysiloxane matrix structure on functional properties was studied by the determination of the antibacterial activity, moisture content, water vapour transition rate and water uptake. Additionally, for the first time, the cytotoxicity of the samples in the presence of APTES and Si-QAC was assessed. The results show that different structures of the bio-barrier-forming polysiloxane matrices not only have a great influence on functional antimicrobial and responsive properties but also affect the cytotoxicity. Both polysiloxane matrices produced excellent antimicrobial activity, but much higher concentration of APTES (i.e., 4%) was needed for the same antimicrobial effect. Despite its small concentration, the presence of the Si-QAC caused strong cytotoxicity and hindered the dual temperature- and pH-responsive properties of the samples. Contrary, APTES showed to be non-cytotoxic, preserving the responsive properties derived by the PNCS microgel. Gained results are important for the development of a biocompatible, smart textiles with pro-active moisture management and antimicrobial properties, appropriate for the manufacture of medical textiles, i.e. smart wound dressings. The research was published in the journal ranked as 1/24 for Materials Science and Textiles, which classifies it as an exceptional achievement.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3515760
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric was treated in a late afterglow of plasma created by a microwave (MW) discharge in the surfatron mode, by using oxygen (O2) and ammonia (NH3) gases. The series of treatments using one gas or the combination of both at different treatment times were performed in order to increase the embedment of UV-responsive microcapsules that were deposited onto PET with pad-dry-cure process. Plasma in both gases was characterized by optical emission spectroscopy (OES), which showed substantial dissociation of O2 and NH3 molecules as well as formation of NHx radicals due to the partial dissociation of ammonia molecules. The chemically active species in the plasma afterglow changed the surface properties of PET that were analysed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF–SIMS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and water absorption analysis. The effectiveness of plasma treatment on embedment of UV-responsive microcapsules on PET was evaluated by UV-responsiveness, colour strength and colour depth using reflectance spectroscopy, add-on and air permeability, respectively. Treating PET by O2 afterglow followed by a longer treatment by NH3 afterglow increased the polymers hydrophilicity and concentration of nitrogen-rich functional groups on surface that enabled higher uptake of UV-responsive microcapsules, and consequently better responsiveness of fabric to UV radiation. The add-on of microcapsules was almost 8-times higher and the colour depth increased up to 75% for plasma treated samples. The research is important for development of smart textiles which could serve as flexible sensors for UV radiation. The research results were published in the journal with IF 4.439 ranked as 1/19 for Materials science, coatings and films, which classifies the research as an exceptional achievement.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3376496
Silver nanoparticles were embedded into a temperature- and pH-responsive microgel based on poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) and chitosan (PNCS) before or after its application to cotton fabric to create a smart stimuli-responsive textile with simultaneous moisture management and controlled antimicrobial activities. Two different methods of silver embedment into the PNCS microgel using two different forms of silver nanoparticles were studied, i.e., in-situ synthesis of AgCl nanocrystals into PNCS microgel particles that had previously been applied to cotton fabric, as well as the direct incorporation of colloidal silver into the microgel suspension prior to its deposition on cellulose fibres. To determine the morphological and chemical changes of the samples SEM, FT-IR EDS and ICP MS analysis were used, while moisture content, water vapour transmission rate, water uptake and growth reduction of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were assessed to determine functional properties. Regardless of the embedment technique, the presence of silver nanoparticles resulted in impaired moisture management activity of the studied microgel. The PNCS microgel proved to be a suitable carrier of antimicrobial agents, assuring the effective controlled release of silver triggered by changes in the temperature and pH of the surroundings, which granted the cotton fabric excellent antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative E. coli ()99%) and Gram-positive S. aureus ()85%). These results are extremely important in the field of antimicrobial functionalization of textile materials, where controlled release of silver only at predetermined conditions was achieved, thus strongly affecting on a prolonged antimicrobial activity of silver, important from an ecological point of view. The results of the research were published in a journal with an IF of 5.158, presenting innovative and advance scientific knowledge.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3350384
This research aimed to optimise the structure of the multifunctional water- and oil-repellent, antibacterial, and flame-retardant hybrid polysilsesquioxane coating to increase its washing fastness to cotton fibres. In the pre-treatment process, pre-prepared Stöber silica particles were applied to the fibres by a pad-dry-cure process followed by the in situ generation of a tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)-based particle-containing polysiloxane layer. A three-component equimolar sol mixture (MC), which included 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (SiF), 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride (SiQ) and P,P-diphenyl-N-(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl) phosphinic amide (SiP) in combination with two different concentrations of TEOS (T and 3T) or organocyclotetrasiloxane 2,4,6,8-tetrakis(2-(diethoxy(methyl)silyl)ethyl)-2,4,6,8-tetramethyl–cyclotetrasiloxane (T4) as crosslinkers, was applied to the pre-treated cotton fibres by a pad-dry-cure process. The functional properties of the coated samples before and after repeated washing were investigated by the water ?(W) and n-hexadecane ?(C16) static contact angle as well as water sliding (roll-off) (?) angle measurements, antibacterial tests, thermogravimetric analyses and burning behaviour studies. The results showed that the inclusion of T4 into the MC sol increased the washing fastness of the coating to a significantly greater extent than the inclusion of T, and the washing fastness even further increased if silica particles were deposited on the fibres in the pre-treatment process. The structural optimisation of the coating also led to the improvement of the functional properties of the coating, which exhibited the “Lotus effect” (?(W) = 161° and ? = 4°) and simultaneously demonstrated high antibacterial activity (the R values for E. coli and S. aureus were 81.6 and 100 %, respectively), enhanced thermo-oxidative stability and “glow” retardancy. The only weakness of the optimised coating is the impairment of its oleophobicity. High-tech multifunctional textiles with protective properties have high added value and are of high importance for the production of protective, electronic, medical, bio-, agro-, geo-, aero-textiles and textiles for sports and leisure. Because of the multifunctionality, their production enables the development of many economic areas.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3354736
This study discusses the effect of corona pre-treatment at atmospheric pressure and subsequent loading of colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles on the biodegradation behaviour of cotton fabric. Biodegradation performance of the control and finished samples was evaluated by standard soil burial tests in predetermined periods of 3, 9 and 18 days. Colour and breaking strength measurements were utilized for assessment of biodegradation progress. Morphological and chemical changes induced by biodegradation were analysed by SEM and FT-IR analyses, respectively. Colorimetric, morphological and chemical changes induced by the biodegradation process were slightly less prominent on corona pre-treated cotton fabric impregnated with TiO2 nanoparticles compared to corona treated and control cotton fabric samples. Although the breaking strength of all samples significantly decreased after 18 days of soil burial, this decline was the least evident on the sample impregnated with TiO2 nanoparticles. However, taking into account the extent of these differences, the influence of TiO2 nanoparticles on biodegradation rate of cotton fabric, which underwent a combined treatment corona/impregnation with TiO2 nanoparticles, could be considered as insignificant. These results confirm that chemical modification of cotton fabrics with plasma and subsequent loading of TiO2 still maintained sustainability of cellulose fibres. This research is important for the development of novel nanotechnological processes for the chemical functionalization of textile materials that are consistent with sustainable development. The research results were published in the journal ranked as 1/24 for Materials Science and Textiles, which classifies the research as an exceptional achievement.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3395440
Information literate students with a good understanding of science are regarded as an important pool of future successful professionals. The study explored correlations between the information literacy (IL) and scientific literacy (SL) of university students and analysed their achievements according to Bloom’s cognitive categories of remembering, understanding and applying knowledge. A theoretical connection between IL standards and SL competencies was exposed. An information literacy test and a science literacy test, derived from the PISA 2006 science scale, were used for assessment. The results showed a significant moderate positive correlation between students’ SL and IL. Students with a better understanding of science were more successful in all three cognitive levels of IL, and students with higher SL scores were better in the application of IL knowledge. A specialised credit-bearing IL course with active learning significantly improved the IL level of all students, most notably in applying IL knowledge, and thus reduced the initial IL disparities between students with low and high SL. The study brought the realisation that the IL of university students depends on their SL obtained in previous education; however, a well-designed university IL course contributes towards higher cognitive levels of IL for all students. The study for the first time drew attention to the parallels and correlations between the SL and IL of university students. The results have positive implications for education at the universities, supporting higher levels of competencies of graduates and future professionals in sciences and technologies. The article was published in a scientific journal ranked in the 1st quartile (74/986) of the Social Science – Education journals.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1340510
The cellulose fabrics made from 100 % cotton with antibacterial and UV protective properties were successfully created by loading of Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite during and after dyeing with yellow, red and blue reactive dye. Blank dyeing (dyeing with all chemicals except dye) was performed to show that reactive dyes have an ability to increase the adsorption and adhesion of Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite on cotton fabrics. The colour of the samples before and after washing and exposure to artificial light was measured by reflectance spectroscopy. The presence of nanocomposite on samples was confirmed by scanning electron microscope. The increased adsorption capacity of cotton towards Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite due to the presence of reactive dyes was confirmed by measuring the quantity of silver using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The same samples showed excellent UV protective properties with UV protection factor (UPF 50+), and excellent antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus. Due to a good adhesion of nanocomposite on samples where loading of nanocomposite and dyeing with reactive dye was performed simultaneously, the samples retained their excellent protective properties after repetitive washing cycles. The results are important for a development of multi-functional coloured textiles, which have also durability to washing. The research results were published in a journal with IF 3.809, which is ranked as 1/24 for Materials science and textiles, which classifies the research as an exceptional achievement.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3231856
To achieve colourful and antibacterial textiles using ecologically friendly processes, cotton and bamboo rayon knitted fabrics were treated using radio-frequency low-pressure water vapour plasma and dyed with the extract of Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) rhizome. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was used to observe plasma during the sample treatment and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study morphological changes of samples. The adsorption of F. japonica on cellulose substrates was studied by measuring the colour (CIE L*a*b*) and colour yield (K/S) of dyed samples. The antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus were tested as well. The results show that water vapour plasma induces weak etching effect on the surface of the cellulose samples, since water molecules in plasma dissociate to produce hydroxyl radicals and oxygen atoms. Plasma-treated samples had higher dye uptake, and better antibacterial properties against S. aureus. The samples did not have antibacterial properties against E. coli. The research is important for the introduction of green dyeing and finishing processes of textiles. The research results were published in a journal with IF 3.809, which is ranked as 1/24 for Materials science and textiles, which classifies the research as an exceptional achievement.
COBISS.SI-ID: 29466151
In this study, a long-lasting highly oleophobic “lotus effect” was developed on the cotton fabric surface by fabricating the hierarchically roughened bumpy-surface topography with a low surface energy. The process was performed in two stages, where the three following approaches were used for the first stage: (1) surface incorporation of Stöber silica particles, which were prepared in advance with average diameters of 50 ± 15, 230 ± 20 and 780 ± 30 nm, (2) in situ generation of a particle-containing polysiloxane layer, (3) in situ generation of the particle-containing polysiloxane layer on the cotton fibres with the previously incorporated Stöber silica particles. In the second stage, the nanometre-scale structures with a simultaneous reduction of surface free energies were obtained using the sol–gel processing of fluoroalkylfunctional water-born oligosiloxane (FAS). The static contact angle measurements with water ?(W) and n-hexadecane ?(C16) and sliding (roll-off) (?) angle measurements with water on the FAS-coated surfaces show that the in situ created particle-containing polysiloxane layer on the cotton fibres with surface-incorporated Stöber particles remarkably minimized the solid/water interface and maximized the water/air interface, which enabled the fabrication of the artificial “Lotus effect”. This effect was characterized with the extremely low roll-off angle, i.e., ? = 2°, and was accompanied by an exceptionally high oleophobicity, where ?(C16) approaches the value of 150°. The noteworthy high durability of these coatings successfully preserves their outstanding performances even after two laboratory washings that correspond to ten domestic washings. Wash resistant water and oil repellent functional properties are of high importance for the textile industry because high wash resistance enables preservation of the functional properties after repetitive washing. This added value can increase the market competitiveness of biodegradable cotton and improve the competitiveness of the European market.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3255152
Low-temperature application process for the functionalization of cotton fibres with organic–inorganic hybrid materials is proposed using titanium tetraisopropoxide (TiP) and aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to achieve bacteriostatic photocatalytic properties. Proposed application process enabled preservation of amorphous TiO2 within TiP/APTES hybrid film, which influenced the achievement of synergistic bactericidic activity between amino functional groups of APTES polymeric system and TiO2, reflecting 60% increase of bacteriostatic activity of the TiP/APTES modified cotton fabric in comparison to one component APTES coating. The presence of Si–O–Ti bonding within the sol–gel hybrids between silica and titania and Si–O–C– bonding between the hybrid materials and the cotton fibres was proven. Strengths of the introduced low-temperature process are: (i) creation of a hybrid film throughout the entire volume of the fibres, and not solely on their surface, (ii) excellent wash durable photocatalytic bacteriostatic activity of new hybrid film, which was not achieved in the case of one-component APTES film, (iii) simple feasibility and technological acceptance of the proposed application process. The results of the research are of great importance for the development of multifunctional protective properties in order to understand the interactions between the nanocomposite film and cellulosic fibres for achieving washing durability of the coatings, which is of outmost significance in the production of textiles with high added value. The research was published in a journal ranked as 1/24 for the Science of Materials in Textile, which ranks it as an exceptional achievement.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3153520