Electrical communication between an enzyme and an electrode is one of the most important factors in determining the performance of biofuel cells. Here, we introduce a glucose oxidase-coated metallic ...cotton fiber-based hybrid biofuel cell with efficient electrical communication between the anodic enzyme and the conductive support. Gold nanoparticles are layer-by-layer assembled with small organic linkers onto cotton fibers to form metallic cotton fibers with extremely high conductivity (>2.1×10
S cm
), and are used as an enzyme-free cathode as well as a conductive support for the enzymatic anode. For preparation of the anode, the glucose oxidase is sequentially layer-by-layer-assembled with the same linkers onto the metallic cotton fibers. The resulting biofuel cells exhibit a remarkable power density of 3.7 mW cm
, significantly outperforming conventional biofuel cells. Our strategy to promote charge transfer through electrodes can provide an important tool to improve the performance of biofuel cells.
• Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) proteins are involved in transcriptional networks controlling a number of biological processes in plants. However, little information is known on the roles of bHLH ...proteins in cotton fibre development so far.
• Here, we show that a cotton bHLH protein (GhFP1) positively regulates fibre elongation. GhFP1 transgenic cotton and Arabidopsis plants were generated to study how GhFP1 regulates fibre cell elongation.
• Fibre length of the transgenic cotton overexpressing GhFP1 was significantly longer than that of wild-type, whereas suppression of GhFP1 expression hindered fibre elongation. Furthermore, overexpression of GhFP1 in Arabidopsis promoted trichome development. Expression of the brassinosteroid (BR)-related genes was markedly upregulated in fibres of GhFP1 overexpression cotton, but downregulated in GhFP1-silenced fibres. BR content in the transgenic fibres was significantly altered, relative to that in wild-type. Moreover, GhFP1 protein could directly bind to the promoters of GhDWF4 and GhCPD to activate expression of these BR-related genes.
• Therefore, our data suggest that GhFP1 as a positive regulator participates in controlling fibre elongation by activating BR biosynthesis and signalling. Additionally, homodimerisation of GhFP1 may be essential for its function, and interaction between GhFP1 and other cotton bHLH proteins may interfere with its DNA-binding activity.
Since bacterial infections seriously threaten human's health, considerable attention is devoted to the design of nanoscale antibacterial materials. Among them, metal nanoparticles cannot meet the ...requirements of durable antibacterial effects and are harmful to biological environments. In this study, environmentally friendly nanogels with durable antibacterial and antiadhesion properties are prepared by copolymerization of styrene, polycaprolactone‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride methacrylate. The resultant nanogels possess regular spherical morphologies with the size of about 200 nm. The nanogels exhibit a strong ability to kill bacteria and the mechanism is different from that of conventional antibacterial agent loaded nanoparticles. In addition, anti‐infection experiments explored by a wound model confirm the nanogels have the capability to prevent infection. Furthermore, the nanogels grafted on the surface of cotton fibers display good thermal stability, which is essential for finishing of fabrics. The cotton fabrics finished with nanogels can prevent the adhesion of bacteria by enhancing the hydrophobicity and the bacteriostatic rate. The antibacterial fabrics against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are still more than 86% active after 50 times of mechanical washing. The biocompatible nanogels are unleachable from the antibacterial fabrics which demonstrate that they are ideal candidates for durable and environmental‐friendly nanoscaled antimicrobial materials.
In this study, environmentally friendly nanogels with durable antibacterial and antiadhesion properties are prepared by copolymerization of guanidine groups based monomers. The resultant inherent guanidine spherical nanogels can kill bacteria effectively and have the capability to prevent infection. Furthermore, the nanogels grafted on cotton fibers display good thermal stability. The cotton fabrics finished with nanogels can prevent the adhesion of bacteria permanently.
Cotton gin trash (CGT), a lignocellulosic waste generated during cotton fibre processing, has recently received significant attention for production of composite bio-plastics. However, earlier ...studies were limited to either with biodegradable polymers, through small-scale solution-casting method, or using industrially adaptable extrusion route, but with non-biodegradable polymers. In this study, a scale-up production of completely biodegradable CGT composite plastic film with adjustable biodegradation rate is proposed. First using a twin screw extruder, the prepared CGT powder was combined with polycaprolactone (PCL) to form pellets, and then using the compressing moulding, the pellets were transformed into bio-plastic composite films. Hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used as a plasticiser in the mixture and its impact on the biodegradation rate was analysed. The morphology of CGT bio-plastic composite films showed even distribution of CGT powder within the PCL matrix. The CGT incorporation improved the UV resistance, thermal stability, and Young's modulus of PCL material. Further, the flexibility and mixing properties of the composites were improved by PEG. Overall, this study demonstrated a sustainable production method of CGT bio-plastic films using the whole CGT and without any waste residue produced, where the degradation of the produced composite films can be adjusted to minimise the environmental impact.
Cotton gin trash (CGT), an agro-industrial waste material produced during the ginning operation of cotton fibre, is a sustainable source of material to fabricate biodegradable polymer. Earlier ...research conducted on the preparation of polymer from different fractions of cotton trash such as linters, burrs and seed hulls cannot be pursued, as physical separation of these individual parts is quite difficult and impractical; the linters entangling all fractions. In our current study, we have used the whole cotton gin trash to fabricate films using formic acid (FA) with different CGT/FA weight ratios (0.5/99.5, 1/99, 3/97, 5/95 and 7/93) in a one-step process. Further, we investigated the structural changes, crystallinity, thermal property, tensile characteristics, wettability and biodegradability of the CGT films. The crystallinity of the films increased with increasing proportion of formic acid. The films were thermally stable up to 200 °C without any glass transition point. The tensile strength of the films was comparable to commercial low density polyethylene. The films produced in this study were found to be biodegradable. Therefore, the overall results have well exposed the CGT as a potential sustainable source for material production.
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•Fabrication of biodegradable film from whole cotton gin trash, as a biomass waste.•Crystallinity of the film enhanced with the higher proportion of formic acid in fabrication process.•Fabricated film showed comparable tensile strength to commercial low density polyethylene.
This article presents the findings concerning the preparation and properties of cotton woven fabrics with a conductive network made of multiwall carbon nanotubes deposited on the fiber surface by the ...padding method. The next stage of treatment consisted of imparting superhydrophobic properties to the fabrics in solution with methyltrichlorosilane (MTCS) in a waterless medium. The tests performed show that the state of surface and water content in cotton fibers exerts a significant influence on the hydrophobic properties of the analyzed samples. In order to explain the differences in hydrophobic properties, the morphology of the cotton fabric surface was examined using samples with various water contents. The formation mechanism of MTCS coatings on cotton fabric has been proposed.
Cotton fabric has been processed into hierarchically porous carbon with a two-step chemical-free method, i.e. carbonization in nitrogen and controlled thermal oxidation in air. By optimizing thermal ...oxidation temperature, large surface area of 777 m2/g could be achieved in cotton fabric derived carbon. The processed carbon remained the micron-meter tubular structure (same as cotton fiber), while meso-/micro-pores were also generated on tube wall. This uniquely structured porous carbon was then doped with nitrogen via a thermal pyrolysis process by using melamine as nitrogen source. The nitrogen doping level was controlled by adjusting the mass ratio of melamine and porous carbon. The nitrogen content in the doped porous carbon could reach up to 9.0 atom% without sacrificing the porous structure and surface area. The nitrogen doping significantly improved the electrochemical capacitance up to 180 F/g at 0.5 A/g, which is 74% enhancement compared to the nitrogen-free carbon (104 F/g). Both origin carbon and nitrogen doped carbon show excellent cycling stability that 95% of the capacitance could be remained after 5000 charge-discharge cycles.
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Natural resources are getting scarcer by the day as the world's population grows. As a result, it is high time to repurpose textiles in order to save the environment and reduce waste. The textile ...industry is one of the most waste-generating industries, resulting in increased pollution. The goal of this study is to evaluate the performance of recycled cotton (R-CO) with conventional cotton (C-CO), organic cotton (O-CO), and better cotton (B-CO) in the denim fabric performance. Denim fabrics were produced using 7.2 Ne slub cotton warp yarn and 8.9 Ne C-CO, O-CO, B-CO, R-CO carded weft yarns. The results revealed that cotton fiber types only had a major impact on tearing and breaking strengths. Among those, recycled cotton had higher skewing movement and lower breaking and tearing strength according to a significance level of α = 0.05. The measured colors were compared to the C-CO fabric as a reference, and the overall color characteristics were found to be closer to the reference fabric, with the exception of the O-CO fabric.
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•Copper-loaded cotton coatings of chitosan and carboxymethylcellulose produced by LbL.•Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against MHV-3 virus and E. coli and S. aureus.•Adjustable ...hydrophilicity and copper release by phosphatidylcholine or PDMS barriers.•Copper multivalence state induced by chitosan during film assembly conditions.•Low impact of the coatings on the physical properties of the substrate.
Nanoarchitectured films are known for tailoring surface properties, while antimicrobial surfaces can reduce pathogen propagation in public spaces and on protective equipment. This study explores the layer-by-layer (LbL) method to create antiviral and antibacterial surfaces against disease transmission. Chitosan and carboxymethylcellulose films were assembled using LbL to incorporate ionic copper, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, onto textile substrates, such as those used in furnishings and personal protective equipment. Film assembly conditions favored the conversion of Cu(II) into multivalent copper, immediately inactivating the MHV-3 virus, Gram-negative (E. coli), and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria. Mechanical tests demonstrate that copper ions have a low impact on the coating and textile physical properties, such as elasticity, tensile strength, and film roughness, by promoting ionic crosslinking of chitosan in the film, while the coating kept air permeability. The coating hydrophilicity and copper release profile were also tuned by the deposition of additional hydrophobic barriers, such as L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine phospholipid or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) by spin-coating or plasma polymerization, respectively. Viral inactivation is achieved by the local release of copper ions in contaminated droplets. The coating may also act as a droplet-absorbing barrier, demonstrating the potential of these films for enhancing pathogen resistance and infection control in textile surfaces.
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