Journal of Advanced Chemical Engineering

Abstract

SAFB-Surface textile modification for antimicrobial finishing using biopolymers

M. Marti

The formation of biofunctional textiles through the application of encapsulated actives with a polyester base is not easy. However, modifying only the chemical surface and / or morphological structure or designing suitable coatings, it is possible to modulate the interfacial properties of a polymer without affecting its general properties.The application of microcapsules or similar structures containing antimicrobial agents will be optimized by modifying the surface of the fibers with plasma treatments. Air corona atmospheric plasma (Corona Plus, Vetaphone, Denmark) pre-treatment were applied to PES fabric to prepare its surface for subsequent treatment with micro- and nano-capsules with essential oils (oregano, lavender etc). The main parameter investigated was the plasma power as the distance between electrodes was maintained constant. The plasma pre-treatment resulted in better deposition of microcapsules due the changes in chemical and morphological surface composition of PES fabric (generation of new COOH groups) and an increase in roughness of fibres. The chemical and morphological changes are confirmed by FTIR/ATR and XPS. Essential oils such as oregano and lavanda were encapsulated in microcapsules with chitosan in pre-emulsion to oil stabilization. The antimicrobial activity of biofunctional textiles were evaluated following AATCC standards. Mathematical modellization of drug delivery from polyester textil was also assessed to study the release mechanisms. Activation/functionalization of the textile surface of PES favors the subsequent adhesion of antimicrobial agents encapsulated with biopolymers.

Published Date: 2020-11-17; Received Date: 2020-05-06