Enzymatic Treatments on Tencel in Water and Microemulsion

Fabrication of Novel Wound Dressing

Sodium alginate (SA) is a polyanionic copolymer consist of mannuronic(M) and guluronic(G) sugar residues, it has been comment used in biomedical applications. In this research, polylactic acid (PLA) and Tencel fiber were fabricated into PLA/Tencel composite nonwoven fabric. Then the gel aqueous Ca-SA was combined with PLA/Tencel composite nonwoven fabric by three-dimensional (3D) coating method to form porosity coating layer. Then LMWCS was sprayed on the whole surface to form antibacterial layer. The physical properties of novel wound dressing were evaluated such as tensile strength, tear strength, water absorption rate, stiffness and SEM. In SEM observation result indicated, the coating layer performs highly porosity structure. Between coating layer and PLA/Tencel composite nonwoven fabric was combined by physical bonding. In this way, PLA/Tencel composite nonwoven fabric can remain some part of air permeability and also enhance the strength of dressing.

Incorporation of the sunscreen agent, octyl methoxycinnamate in a cellulosic fabric grafted with β-cyclodextrin

The aim of the study was to investigate the incorporation of the sunscreen agent, octyl methoxycinnamate into cyclodextrin cavities covalently bound to cloth fibres. Tencel, a cellulosic fabric, was grafted with beta-cyclodextrin molecules through reaction with monochlorotriazinyl-beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CDMCT). The finished and untreated textiles were soaked in water-methanol mixtures containing 2% (v/v) of sunscreen agent and subsequently subjected to several washing cycles. The unmodified and modified fabrics were characterized by UV spectrophotometry and thermogravimetric analysis. The level of octyl methoxycinnamate entrapped in the Tencel tissue was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and was found to be much higher (0.0203%, w/w) for the textile functionalised with beta-CDMCT compared to the unmodified fabric (0.0025%, w/w). In addition, spectrophotometric assessment of UV transmission through the fabric samples using the Transpore test showed that the in vitro sun protection factor of the textile support was markedly enhanced (3.2-fold increase) by impregnation with octyl methoxycinnamate of the beta-CDMCT grafted textile. Hence, even after repeated washings, the beta-CD finished fabric exhibits higher sunscreen agent retention and photoprotective properties than the unmodified textile material.