FIG 2 - uploaded by Andreas Moellebjerg
Content may be subject to copyright.
Physicochemical properties of cotton and polyester textiles. (a) Hydrophobicity of cotton and polyester textiles measured by the contact angle with water (n = 3). (b) Absorbed water content in cotton and polyester as measured by percentage of textile dry weight (n = 4). (c) Moisture regain of cotton and polyester after 24 h (n = 3). (d) Absorbed sweat (n = 6) and sebum (n = 10) in cotton and polyester textiles. (e) Evaporation of inoculated liquid from textile over time (n = 4). Statistical significance was evaluated by a two-tailed Welch t test.
Source publication
Colonization of textiles and subsequent metabolic degradation of sweat and sebum components by axillary skin bacteria cause the characteristic sweat malodor and discoloring of dirty clothes. Once inside the textile, the bacteria can form biofilms that are hard to remove by conventional washing. When the biofilm persists after washing, the textiles...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... the bacterial behavior in all stages of the biofilm life cycle. The hydrophobicity of the textile and the resulting interaction with water and sweat-sebum were investigated. Measuring the contact angle through the Wilhelmy plate method revealed that polyester is significantly more hydrophobic than cotton, differing by ;8° in the contact angle (Fig. 2a). Previous measurements indicated a difference in contact angle of ;14° (17). However, neither of the measured contact angles is statistically significantly different from the literature ...
Context 2
... to the difference in hydrophobicity, cotton and polyester differ in their hygroscopic behavior. Cotton initially absorbed more water than polyester when inoculated with artificial sweat-sebum (Fig. 2b), indicating that higher hydrophilicity of cotton resulted in a higher hygroscopicity. While cotton and polyester differed in their initial water content, the evaporation kinetics of the textiles were similar (Fig. 2e) and consistent with previous findings (18). Cotton and polyester had initial evaporation rates of 1.78% and 1.85% min ...
Context 3
... in their hygroscopic behavior. Cotton initially absorbed more water than polyester when inoculated with artificial sweat-sebum (Fig. 2b), indicating that higher hydrophilicity of cotton resulted in a higher hygroscopicity. While cotton and polyester differed in their initial water content, the evaporation kinetics of the textiles were similar (Fig. 2e) and consistent with previous findings (18). Cotton and polyester had initial evaporation rates of 1.78% and 1.85% min 21 , respectively. The drying process took a little longer in cotton due to the higher initial water content, and cotton also displayed a higher moisture regain at the end of the drying process (Fig. 2c). When ...
Context 4
... the textiles were similar (Fig. 2e) and consistent with previous findings (18). Cotton and polyester had initial evaporation rates of 1.78% and 1.85% min 21 , respectively. The drying process took a little longer in cotton due to the higher initial water content, and cotton also displayed a higher moisture regain at the end of the drying process (Fig. 2c). When inoculated with artificial sweat-sebum, cotton retained 2.24% of the textile weight in water while polyester retained 0.23% water. These results are consistent with earlier findings that show that the moisture regain under these conditions is ;4% for cotton (19), while it is practically zero in polyester (20). The hygroscopic ...
Context 5
... and bacterial growth indirectly through its effect on water retention and availability of nutrients from the hydrophobic sebum. We therefore proceeded to investigate the interaction of sebum lipids with the textile fibers. In contrast to water absorption, the hydrophobic polyester absorbed more sebum and more sweat solutes compared to cotton (Fig. 2d). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) revealed that the sebum was mainly composed of triglycerides ( Fig. S1) and contained small amounts of sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholines originating from the adipocyte cell membranes. Gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) on FAME indicated that the triglycerides ...
Context 6
... is distributed along the fiber surface in polyester. After quantification of sebum absorption, we visualized its distribution to get more insight into sebum's availability to bacteria in the textile. Specific staining of sebum by Nile Red (Fig. S2) revealed formation of spherical sebum droplets in cotton, and the distribution appeared unaffected by drying the textile (Fig. 3a). In polyester, however, sebum was much more homogenously distributed. It coated the fibers and spanned the space between fibers. Upon drying, sebum remained associated along the length of the fibers. (Fig. ...
Context 7
... activity for all bacteria showed no significant differences in ATP concentration at the end of the incubation. This trend was not observed in S. hominis and S. epidermidis (Fig. 5b and c). These species maintained or even increased their activity in cotton during the 24-h incubation, despite the loss of 98.6% of the water in the textile (Fig. 2c), indicating a higher tolerance to desiccation. Meanwhile, both C. jeikeium and C. acnes had a higher ATP content in cotton than in polyester after ...
Context 8
... cotton and polyester) and most bacteria have negative zeta potentials at neutral pH (25)(26)(27)(28). Experiments done under similar ionic strengths indicate that the more influential parameter for bacterial adhesion is hydrophobicity, as acid/base interactions are the dominant forces (25,29). As polyester is the more hydrophobic textile (Fig. 2a), more bacteria adhere irreversibly to this textile after first entering the clothes during absorption of sweat (Fig. 4 and 6). The same trend was observed previously in other studies when model organisms were used (30,31). The hydrophilic cotton fibers contain hydrophobic wax impurities that were not completely removed during ...
Context 9
... hydrophilic nature of cotton fiber may not influence the adhesion during drying directly, but its effect on hygroscopicity of the textile might. Most of the water in both textiles had evaporated after 2 h (Fig. 2e), but the moisture regain for cotton was 10-fold higher than that for polyester (Fig. 2c). In cotton, the retained water can both be absorbed into the fiber interior (36) and form a hydrating film on the fiber surface. Assuming a fiber diameter of 10 mm, a cotton density of 1.54 g cm 23 , and that all the water is confined to the ...
Context 10
... hydrophilic nature of cotton fiber may not influence the adhesion during drying directly, but its effect on hygroscopicity of the textile might. Most of the water in both textiles had evaporated after 2 h (Fig. 2e), but the moisture regain for cotton was 10-fold higher than that for polyester (Fig. 2c). In cotton, the retained water can both be absorbed into the fiber interior (36) and form a hydrating film on the fiber surface. Assuming a fiber diameter of 10 mm, a cotton density of 1.54 g cm 23 , and that all the water is confined to the surface, the height of the hydrating layer is 170 nm thick after drying under the conditions ...
Context 11
... provides a readily available nutrient source for microbial growth through sebum adsorption. The second stage in the bacterial life cycle in textiles is growth. Bacterial growth is influenced by nutrient availability and water content. While cotton absorbed more water (Fig. 2b), polyester absorbed significantly larger volumes of both sebum and sweat solutes (Fig. 2d). The polyester fibers adsorbed more bacteria than cotton, and the initial activity of the adsorbed bacteria was also higher in polyester (Fig. 5g). Teufel et al. also found that an increased amount of bacterial DNA in polyester textiles ...
Context 12
... readily available nutrient source for microbial growth through sebum adsorption. The second stage in the bacterial life cycle in textiles is growth. Bacterial growth is influenced by nutrient availability and water content. While cotton absorbed more water (Fig. 2b), polyester absorbed significantly larger volumes of both sebum and sweat solutes (Fig. 2d). The polyester fibers adsorbed more bacteria than cotton, and the initial activity of the adsorbed bacteria was also higher in polyester (Fig. 5g). Teufel et al. also found that an increased amount of bacterial DNA in polyester textiles inoculated and incubated with harvested sweat compared to those in cotton (40). Meanwhile, polyester ...
Context 13
... particles in the textiles. The hydrophobic sebum had a lower adhesion energy when interacting with polyester than when interacting with cotton, and this drove the spreading of sebum across the polyester surface (Fig. 3b) while confining sebum in cotton to discrete droplets (Fig. 3a). This effect increases the absorption of sebum in polyester (Fig. 2d) and also increases its availability to bacteria by increasing its surface area. Polyester therefore appears to provide optimal access to nutrients for the adsorbed ...
Context 14
... availability of sebum is not the only parameter relevant to bacterial growth. When sweating ceases and the textile starts to dry out, the textile's ability to bind water becomes important. Although the evaporation rates in cotton and polyester were almost identical at 37°C and 30% relative humidity (RH) (Fig. 2e), the higher moisture regain in cotton will extend the period that bacteria can grow in the textile. We show that the small amount of water retained in cotton was sufficient for continued activity of the desiccation-resistant staphylococci (Fig. 5b and ...
Context 15
... tend to be very volatile and evaporate from the textile rapidly, while medium-chain fatty acids are less volatile (44). As the water phase evaporates from the textile, the less volatile fatty acids become concentrated, driving further odor release. Cotton can therefore sequester more odor compounds than polyester due to the higher moisture regain (Fig. 2c). In conclusion, the textiles' interaction with water and sebum will likely lead to a more intense and immediate production of malodor from polyester. The more hydrophilic and hygroscopic textiles like cotton may thus be less prone to malodor production. However, they would also prolong bacterial activity and survival in the textile ...
Context 16
... the bacterial behavior in all stages of the biofilm life cycle. The hydrophobicity of the textile and the resulting interaction with water and sweat-sebum were investigated. Measuring the contact angle through the Wilhelmy plate method revealed that polyester is significantly more hydrophobic than cotton, differing by ;8° in the contact angle (Fig. 2a). Previous measurements indicated a difference in contact angle of ;14° (17). However, neither of the measured contact angles is statistically significantly different from the literature ...
Context 17
... to the difference in hydrophobicity, cotton and polyester differ in their hygroscopic behavior. Cotton initially absorbed more water than polyester when inoculated with artificial sweat-sebum (Fig. 2b), indicating that higher hydrophilicity of cotton resulted in a higher hygroscopicity. While cotton and polyester differed in their initial water content, the evaporation kinetics of the textiles were similar (Fig. 2e) and consistent with previous findings (18). Cotton and polyester had initial evaporation rates of 1.78% and 1.85% min ...
Context 18
... in their hygroscopic behavior. Cotton initially absorbed more water than polyester when inoculated with artificial sweat-sebum (Fig. 2b), indicating that higher hydrophilicity of cotton resulted in a higher hygroscopicity. While cotton and polyester differed in their initial water content, the evaporation kinetics of the textiles were similar (Fig. 2e) and consistent with previous findings (18). Cotton and polyester had initial evaporation rates of 1.78% and 1.85% min 21 , respectively. The drying process took a little longer in cotton due to the higher initial water content, and cotton also displayed a higher moisture regain at the end of the drying process (Fig. 2c). When ...
Context 19
... the textiles were similar (Fig. 2e) and consistent with previous findings (18). Cotton and polyester had initial evaporation rates of 1.78% and 1.85% min 21 , respectively. The drying process took a little longer in cotton due to the higher initial water content, and cotton also displayed a higher moisture regain at the end of the drying process (Fig. 2c). When inoculated with artificial sweat-sebum, cotton retained 2.24% of the textile weight in water while polyester retained 0.23% water. These results are consistent with earlier findings that show that the moisture regain under these conditions is ;4% for cotton (19), while it is practically zero in polyester (20). The hygroscopic ...
Context 20
... and bacterial growth indirectly through its effect on water retention and availability of nutrients from the hydrophobic sebum. We therefore proceeded to investigate the interaction of sebum lipids with the textile fibers. In contrast to water absorption, the hydrophobic polyester absorbed more sebum and more sweat solutes compared to cotton (Fig. 2d). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) revealed that the sebum was mainly composed of triglycerides ( Fig. S1) and contained small amounts of sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholines originating from the adipocyte cell membranes. Gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) on FAME indicated that the triglycerides ...
Context 21
... is distributed along the fiber surface in polyester. After quantification of sebum absorption, we visualized its distribution to get more insight into sebum's availability to bacteria in the textile. Specific staining of sebum by Nile Red (Fig. S2) revealed formation of spherical sebum droplets in cotton, and the distribution appeared unaffected by drying the textile (Fig. 3a). In polyester, however, sebum was much more homogenously distributed. It coated the fibers and spanned the space between fibers. Upon drying, sebum remained associated along the length of the fibers. (Fig. ...
Context 22
... activity for all bacteria showed no significant differences in ATP concentration at the end of the incubation. This trend was not observed in S. hominis and S. epidermidis (Fig. 5b and c). These species maintained or even increased their activity in cotton during the 24-h incubation, despite the loss of 98.6% of the water in the textile (Fig. 2c), indicating a higher tolerance to desiccation. Meanwhile, both C. jeikeium and C. acnes had a higher ATP content in cotton than in polyester after ...
Context 23
... cotton and polyester) and most bacteria have negative zeta potentials at neutral pH (25)(26)(27)(28). Experiments done under similar ionic strengths indicate that the more influential parameter for bacterial adhesion is hydrophobicity, as acid/base interactions are the dominant forces (25,29). As polyester is the more hydrophobic textile (Fig. 2a), more bacteria adhere irreversibly to this textile after first entering the clothes during absorption of sweat (Fig. 4 and 6). The same trend was observed previously in other studies when model organisms were used (30,31). The hydrophilic cotton fibers contain hydrophobic wax impurities that were not completely removed during ...
Context 24
... hydrophilic nature of cotton fiber may not influence the adhesion during drying directly, but its effect on hygroscopicity of the textile might. Most of the water in both textiles had evaporated after 2 h (Fig. 2e), but the moisture regain for cotton was 10-fold higher than that for polyester (Fig. 2c). In cotton, the retained water can both be absorbed into the fiber interior (36) and form a hydrating film on the fiber surface. Assuming a fiber diameter of 10 mm, a cotton density of 1.54 g cm 23 , and that all the water is confined to the ...
Context 25
... hydrophilic nature of cotton fiber may not influence the adhesion during drying directly, but its effect on hygroscopicity of the textile might. Most of the water in both textiles had evaporated after 2 h (Fig. 2e), but the moisture regain for cotton was 10-fold higher than that for polyester (Fig. 2c). In cotton, the retained water can both be absorbed into the fiber interior (36) and form a hydrating film on the fiber surface. Assuming a fiber diameter of 10 mm, a cotton density of 1.54 g cm 23 , and that all the water is confined to the surface, the height of the hydrating layer is 170 nm thick after drying under the conditions ...
Context 26
... provides a readily available nutrient source for microbial growth through sebum adsorption. The second stage in the bacterial life cycle in textiles is growth. Bacterial growth is influenced by nutrient availability and water content. While cotton absorbed more water (Fig. 2b), polyester absorbed significantly larger volumes of both sebum and sweat solutes (Fig. 2d). The polyester fibers adsorbed more bacteria than cotton, and the initial activity of the adsorbed bacteria was also higher in polyester (Fig. 5g). Teufel et al. also found that an increased amount of bacterial DNA in polyester textiles ...
Context 27
... readily available nutrient source for microbial growth through sebum adsorption. The second stage in the bacterial life cycle in textiles is growth. Bacterial growth is influenced by nutrient availability and water content. While cotton absorbed more water (Fig. 2b), polyester absorbed significantly larger volumes of both sebum and sweat solutes (Fig. 2d). The polyester fibers adsorbed more bacteria than cotton, and the initial activity of the adsorbed bacteria was also higher in polyester (Fig. 5g). Teufel et al. also found that an increased amount of bacterial DNA in polyester textiles inoculated and incubated with harvested sweat compared to those in cotton (40). Meanwhile, polyester ...
Context 28
... particles in the textiles. The hydrophobic sebum had a lower adhesion energy when interacting with polyester than when interacting with cotton, and this drove the spreading of sebum across the polyester surface (Fig. 3b) while confining sebum in cotton to discrete droplets (Fig. 3a). This effect increases the absorption of sebum in polyester (Fig. 2d) and also increases its availability to bacteria by increasing its surface area. Polyester therefore appears to provide optimal access to nutrients for the adsorbed ...
Context 29
... availability of sebum is not the only parameter relevant to bacterial growth. When sweating ceases and the textile starts to dry out, the textile's ability to bind water becomes important. Although the evaporation rates in cotton and polyester were almost identical at 37°C and 30% relative humidity (RH) (Fig. 2e), the higher moisture regain in cotton will extend the period that bacteria can grow in the textile. We show that the small amount of water retained in cotton was sufficient for continued activity of the desiccation-resistant staphylococci (Fig. 5b and ...
Context 30
... tend to be very volatile and evaporate from the textile rapidly, while medium-chain fatty acids are less volatile (44). As the water phase evaporates from the textile, the less volatile fatty acids become concentrated, driving further odor release. Cotton can therefore sequester more odor compounds than polyester due to the higher moisture regain (Fig. 2c). In conclusion, the textiles' interaction with water and sebum will likely lead to a more intense and immediate production of malodor from polyester. The more hydrophilic and hygroscopic textiles like cotton may thus be less prone to malodor production. However, they would also prolong bacterial activity and survival in the textile ...
Citations
... Generally, positive to neutral charged surfaces are more prone to microbial attachment in comparison to negatively charged surfaces, this is due to the microbial cell envelope charge, being usually negative [34,35] Intuitively, hydrophilic fabrics, made of cellulose-based fibers, such as viscose and wood pulp, are more vulnerable to microbial adherence and contamination of the fabrics, in comparison to hydrophobic, polyethylene-based fabrics [2,9,10,36]. However, some theories and studies suggest that bacteria will adhere more strongly to more hydrophobic fibers [37]. The latter assumption is based on the physics of bacterial adhesion to surfaces [38]. ...
The physicochemical properties of nonwoven wet wipe fabrics have a strong influence on the ability of microorganisms to attach and multiply, until a biofilm is formed. Cellulose-based fabrics, being biodegradable, represent a major contamination risk. In addition, having a hydrophilic nature, they provide a good platform for microorganisms attachment. To optimize biodegradable wet wipes antimicrobial quality, it is crucial to assess the impact of physicochemical properties, e.g., density, pore size, fiber diameter, contact angle and surface charge. Here, we investigated the physical characteristics of commonly used nonwoven fabrics from both synthetic (Polyethylene terephthalate, PET) and natural components (wood pulp and viscose), to evaluate their effect on microbial contamination. We found that the hydrophobicity of the fabric had varying influence on attachment, depending on the microbial strain. However, the geometry, as well as the fabric pore size greatly affected attachment regardless of the microbial strain, in which a larger pore size resulted in lower accumulation of microbial biomass. Our study gives insight into the characteristics of wet wipes that can affect the preservation efficacy and microbial contamination risk, in one of the biggest segments in the personal care industry.
... In plants, bacteria colonize the surfaces of leaves and flowers, where thin water films and threads can form [5]. In textiles, cells adhere to wetted fibers, with the thickness of the surrounding liquid film changing as the material hydrates or dries [6]. Laboratory experiments typically use hydrogels containing liquid media to study growth and motility of microorganisms. ...
... Since water menisci should generally exist around bacterial cells grown on hydrated substrates, we wondered how capillary forces might affect the development of growing but non-motile colonies. To explore this question, we imaged E. coli colonies, which are known to be poorly motile on hard agar [6], and found that two adjacent colonies elongate and expand preferentially toward each other (Supplementary Fig. 14). We hypothesized that the elongation of growing colonies is due to the asymmetric capillary force acting on them. ...
Many bacteria inhabit thin layers of water on solid surfaces both naturally in soils or on hosts or textiles and in the lab on agar hydrogels. In these environments, cells experience capillary forces, yet an understanding of how these forces shape bacterial collective behaviors remains elusive. Here, we show that the water menisci formed around bacteria lead to capillary attraction between cells while still allowing them to slide past one another. We develop an experimental apparatus that allows us to control bacterial collective behaviors by varying the strength and range of capillary forces. Combining 3D imaging and cell tracking with agent-based modeling, we demonstrate that capillary attraction organizes rod-shaped bacteria into densely packed, nematic groups, and profoundly influences their collective dynamics and morphologies. Our results suggest that capillary forces may be a ubiquitous physical ingredient in shaping microbial communities in partially hydrated environments.
... After coating with one layer of PAH and PAH/ZnO multilayers, all fabrics exhibited slight hydrophobic properties with similar water contact angles (CA > 95 • ) regardless of the textile type used. Bacterial colonization on textile surfaces depends on the textile material's hydrophobic and hygroscopic properties [47]. Numerous studies have shown that bacteria with hydrophilic surface properties adhere more strongly to hydrophilic surfaces [48][49][50][51]. ...
In healthcare facilities, infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) from textile materials are a cause for concern, and nanomaterials are one of the solutions; however, their impact on safety and biocompatibility with the human body must not be neglected. This study aimed to develop a novel multilayer coating with poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and immobilized ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to make efficient antibacterial and biocompatible cotton, polyester, and nylon textiles. For this purpose, the coated textiles were characterized with profilometry, contact angles, and electrokinetic analyzer measurements. The ZnO NPs on the textiles were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The antibacterial tests were conducted with S. aureus and biocompatibility with immortalized human keratinocyte cells. The results demonstrated successful PAH/ZnO coating formation on the textiles, demonstrating weak hydrophobic properties. Furthermore, PAH multilayers caused complete ZnO NP immobilization on the coated textiles. All coated textiles showed strong growth inhibition (2–3-log reduction) in planktonic and adhered S. aureus cells. The bacterial viability was reduced by more than 99%. Cotton, due to its better ZnO NP adherence, demonstrated a slightly higher antibacterial performance than polyester and nylon. The coating procedure enables the binding of ZnO NPs in an amount (<30 µg cm⁻²) that, after complete dissolution, is significantly below the concentration causing cytotoxicity (10 µg mL⁻¹).
... 7 Epidermal sebum is composed of sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands and epidermal lipids produced by disintegrating SC cells. 8 The lipid components of human ...
Background
During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, wearing medical respirators and masks was essential to prevent transmission.
Objective
To quantify the effects of N95 mask usage by measuring facial skin biophysical characteristics and changes in the lipidome.
Methods
Sixty healthy volunteers wore N95 respirators for 3 or 6 h. Facial images were acquired and physiological parameters were measured in specific facial areas, before and after mask‐wearing. Lipidome analysis was also performed.
Results
After N95 respirator usage, facial erythema was observed in both the 3 and 6 h groups. Both sebum secretion and trans‐epidermal water loss increased significantly in mask‐covered cheeks and chins after 6 h of mask wearing compared with before mask wearing (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis revealed significant differences in lipid composition after mask wearing compared with before. The ceramide subclass NS exhibited a positive correlation with stratum corneum hydration, whereas the AP subclass was negatively correlated with trans‐epidermal water loss in the 6 h group.
Conclusion
Prolonged wear of N95 respirators may impair facial skin function and alter lipidome composition.
... Thus, special care is required when integrating electronic components into textiles, as they are easily damaged by hydrothermal treatment, especially if clothing is in contact with human skin. For the first base layer of clothing moisture, temperature and nutrient abundance are the main factors leading to an increase in bacteria growth [16,17]. Metabolic products of microorganisms are a source of contamination and odors requiring frequent washing, which can significantly reduce the overall products life. ...
In many smart textile development studies, sensors and electro-conductive yarns have been widely investigated and used as essential components, especially in the fields of medicine, sport, work wear, and special applications. Wearable sensors provide a means to monitor the wearer’s health through physiological measurements in a natural setting or are used to detect potential hazards and alert users and/or caretakers. The aim of the research is to develop a prototype of wearable electronics that consists of high-performance clothing with an integrated energy harvesting system for converting the mechanical energy of human movements into electrical energy. Within the framework of the research, a system for determining human physiological and/or environmental parameters and transmitting data was developed and integrated into clothing modified with sol–gel technology for indoor and outdoor use. Although the created flat inductive elements of the energy harvesting system retain their performance during the hydrothermal treatment process, at the same time, the other elements of the smart clothing system (especially electro-conductive yarns) rapidly lose their electrical conductivity. The modified knitwear provided a longer time between washing cycles to protect the embedded wearable electronics, and the impact of surface modification with sol–gel on wearing comfort was evaluated.
... According to Behan et al. (1996), in perfume design, environmental factors such as heat, humidity, and skin temperature, as well as oiliness affect the scent profile. To understand how or if the factors differ for living scent, the impact of the textile fibres on the bacterial scent output in the form of VOCs was studied for its development, intensity, and longevity, linking observations and data to bacterial growth patterns (Møllebjerg et al. 2021). Whilst the VOC is a natural metabolite of the selected bacterial species, it is hypothesised that the textile influences the bacterial growth pattern and scent intensity, duration of a VOC profile and variations in scent profiles. ...
... To further explore this, knit patterns will be developed and 12 tested using a subjective method in future research. This aligns with previous research, which found that physiochemical properties of fibres influence bacterial behaviour throughout their life cycle (Møllebjerg et al, 2021) and in relation to the formation of bacterial-textile hybrids (Sherry et al., 2023). Hydrophobic and hygroscopic properties of fibres and yarns were shown to influence bacterial growth and adhesion at different life cycle stages (Møllebjerg et al 2021), with fibre diameter and wicking velocity suggested to affect bacterial movement on textile biohybrids (Sherry et al., 2023). ...
... This aligns with previous research, which found that physiochemical properties of fibres influence bacterial behaviour throughout their life cycle (Møllebjerg et al, 2021) and in relation to the formation of bacterial-textile hybrids (Sherry et al., 2023). Hydrophobic and hygroscopic properties of fibres and yarns were shown to influence bacterial growth and adhesion at different life cycle stages (Møllebjerg et al 2021), with fibre diameter and wicking velocity suggested to affect bacterial movement on textile biohybrids (Sherry et al., 2023). The current study hypothesized that while bacterial VOCs produced during growth phases are not modifiable with the current process, fibre properties may affect growth and intensity of certain compounds, resulting in different VOC profiles. ...
This research paper presents a study on the development of living textile-bacterial hybrids, focusing on
the scent produced by Streptomyces violaceruber, a bacterial species, throughout its growth phase. The
objective of this study was to observe scent profiles of S. violaceruber on two different fibres, cotton,
and linen, and analyse the potential impact of fibre properties on scent profile, intensity, and duration.
In doing so the research suggests potential opportunities to curate living scent through textiles and the
generation of sensory textile-bacterial hybrids. Interdisciplinary methods were applied to compare
changes in the volatile compounds present and identify fibres and fabrication processes most suitable
to create a living textile. The paper reports on the development of textile samples that are infused with
S. violaceruber and observed for their subjective scent as well as the volatile compounds, which were
analysed via gas chromatography. The findings of this study confirmed the presence and development
of bacterial scents on textiles during bacterial growth. The scents identified included earthy, soil-like,
floral, jasmine, and fruity notes, offering potential for further exploration in fibre and yarn selection, as
well as the structural design of the textile. This research contributes to the field of biotextiles by
examining the influence of textile fibres and knitted textiles on bacterial volatile compounds. It
establishes a platform for investigating how different fibres and structural factors influence the
bacterial scent profile and provides valuable insights for the future development of living sensory
textiles and their integration into various applications.
Keywords: textile-bacterial hybrids; living textiles; living scent; sensory textiles
... The bacteria, as well as the perspiration odor and color, persist because cleaning is ineffective. Biofilms build up over time, causing textile quality to deteriorate (Mollebjerg et al., 2021). As a result, pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbes come into contact with fabrics. ...
... Bacterial colonization and growth in textiles are dynamic processes that evolve when the fabric is used, dried, cleaned, and worn again. Bacteria attach to textiles more after drying than when wet because the decreasing water content in the textile encourages bacteria adhesion and bacterial development is influenced by nutrition availability and water content (Mollebjerg et al., 2021). Distinct fiber types have different surface characteristics and functional groups, which affect bacterial adhesion and growth as well as the adsorption and retention of volatile substances. ...
... Eccrine sweat is 99 percent water, with the remaining 1% made up of electrolytes, amino acids, carbohydrates, and vitamins. Sebum is composed of triglycerides, fatty acids, squalene, cholesterol, wax esters, and cholesterol esters (Mollebjerg et al., 2021). ...
Bacterial biofilms are complex communities of bacteria that adhere to surfaces, including living tissues, and form a protective matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Biofilms are widespread and play crucial roles in various processes, such as nutrient cycling, bioremediation, and biofouling. They have significant implications for public health. Biofilms provide an ideal environment for bacteria to exchange genetic material, including resistance genes, via horizontal gene transfer mechanisms such as conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Moreover, biofilms can protect bacteria from antibiotics and host immune responses, enabling them to persist and cause chronic infections. The EPS matrix, which can act as a physical barrier, limits the penetration of antibiotics into the biofilm, and the slow-growing or dormant cells within the biofilm are less susceptible to antibiotics than their planktonic counterparts. The significance of bacterial biofilms in the development of antibiotic resistance has prompted research efforts to understand their formation and mechanisms of resistance. Novel strategies to prevent or disrupt biofilm formation are also being explored, including the development of antibiofilm agents and biofilm-disrupting enzymes. Understanding the role of biofilms in the spread of antibiotic resistance is crucial for the development of effective treatment and prevention strategies to combat the chronic infections associated with biofilm-producing bacteria.
... Different from lipid substances (triglycerides, free fatty acid and cholesterol) derived from the other sources, sebum produced by SGs contains special squalene, wax ester, galactose, vitamins and some antimicrobial peptides, but extremely low cholesterol. Sebum also serves as a barrier to retard the release of skin odour signals produced by sweat glands and SGs [3,4]. In a nutshell, sebum plays a crucial role in protecting and moisturizing the dermal system. ...
Background
Sebaceous glands (SGs) synthesize and secret sebum to protect and moisturize the dermal system via the complicated endocrine modulation. Dysfunction of SG are usually implicated in a number of dermal and inflammatory diseases. However, the molecular mechanism behind the differentiation, development and proliferation of SGs is far away to fully understand.
Methods
Herein, the rat volar and mammary tissues with abundant SGs from female SD rats with (post-natal day (PND)-35) and without puberty onset (PND-25) were arrested, and conducted RNA sequencing. The protein complex of Neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 (NPY2R)/NPY5R/Nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) was performed by immunoprecipitation, mass spectrum and gel filtration. Genome-wide occupancy of NFATc1 was measured by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. Target proteins’ expression and localization was detected by western blot and immunofluorescence.
Results
NPY2R gene was significantly up-regulated in volar and mammary SGs of PND-25. A special protein complex of NPY2R/NPY5R/NFATc1 in PND-25. NFATc1 was dephosphorylated and activated, then localized into nucleus to exert as a transcription factor in volar SGs of PND-35. NFATc1 was especially binding at enhancer regions to facilitate the distal SG and sebum related genes’ transcription. Dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) contributed to NFATc1 phosphorylation in PND-25, and inactivated of DYRK1A resulted in NFATc1 dephosphorylation and nuclear localization in PND-35.
Conclusions
Our findings unmask the new role of NPY2R/NFATc1/DYRK1A in pubertal SG, and are of benefit to advanced understanding the molecular mechanism of SGs’ function after puberty, and provide some theoretical basis for the treatment of acne vulgaris from the perspective of hormone regulation.
Graphical Abstract
... Other studies showed that bacterial colonization of textiles depends partially on the hydrophobic and hygroscopic properties of the textile material. Due to the higher hydrophobicity, more bacteria adhered to polyester compared to cotton, resulting in a faster establishment of surface-associated biofilms [39]. For spreading of infections in a hospital environment, the transfer of microorganisms from textiles plays an important role, and key factors including surface properties, friction and moisture of the fabric are important [40]. ...
The hospital environment represents an important mediator for the transmission of healthcare-associated infections through direct and indirect hand contact with hard surfaces and textiles. In this study, bacteria on high-touch sites, including textiles and hard surfaces in two care wards in Sweden, were identified using microbiological culture methods and 16S rDNA sequencing. During a cross-sectional study, 176 high-touch hard surfaces and textiles were identified and further analysed using microbiological culture for quantification of total aerobic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile and Enterobacteriacae. The bacterial population structures were further analysed in 26 samples using 16S rDNA sequencing. The study showed a higher frequency of unique direct hand-textile contacts (36 per hour), compared to hard surfaces (2.2 per hour). Hard surfaces met the recommended standard of ≤ 5 CFU/cm2 for aerobic bacteria and ≤ 1 CFU/cm2 for S. aureus (53% and 35%, respectively) to a higher extent compared to textiles (19% and 30%, respectively) (P = 0.0488). The number of bacterial genera was higher on textiles than on the hard surfaces. Staphylococcus (30.4%) and Corynebacterium (10.9%) were the most representative genera for textiles and Streptococcus (13.3%) for hard surfaces. The fact that a big percentage of the textiles did not fulfil the criteria for cleanliness, combined with the higher bacterial diversity, compared to hard surfaces, are indicators that textiles were bacterial reservoirs and potential risk vectors for bacterial transmission. However, since most of the bacteria found in the study belonged to the normal flora, it was not possible to draw conclusions of textiles and hard surfaces as sources of healthcare associated infections.
... and nylon (monofilament Fladen Vantage, www.empressmills.co.uk) were sourced as a range of natural and synthetic fibres on which to test the translocation ability of a motile bacterial culture of Pseudomonas putida (Section 2.3.2). Fibres were raw (with no finish) and were selected for either high levels of bacterial adhesion, for example, polyester and nylon (Møllebjerg et al., 2021) or fibres characterised as 'antibacterial' such as flax, wool and silk (Zimniewska & Goślińska-Kuźniarek., 2016;Caven et al., 2019;Varshney et al., 2021, respectively). In addition, fibres were selected suitable for applications in programmable knitting (Scott., 2018) to support the design investigation (Section 2.4). ...
Introduction: Living materials (biohybrids, textile-microbial hybrids, hybrid living materials) have gained much attention in recent years with enormous potential for applications in biomedical science, the built environment, construction and architecture, drug delivery and as environmental biosensors. Living materials contain matrices which incorporate microorganisms or biomolecules as the bioactive components. A cross-disciplinary approach, operating at the intersection of creative practice and scientific research, incorporated textile technology and microbiology to demonstrate textile fibres providing microbial scaffolds and highways during this study.
Methods: The study evolved from previous research which showed bacteria utilising the water layer surrounding fungal mycelium for motility, termed the ‘fungal highway’, which led to the investigation of the directional dispersal of microbes across a range of fibre types (natural and synthetic). The application of the study centred around the potential for biohybrids to be used as a biotechnology to improve oil bioremediation through seeding of hydrocarbon-degrading microbes into polluted environments via fungal or fibre highways, therefore treatments in the presence of crude oil were tested. Furthermore, from a design perspective, textiles have huge potential to act as a conduit for water and nutrients, essential to sustain microorganisms within living materials. Using the moisture absorption properties of natural fibres, the research explored how to engineer variable liquid absorption rates using cellulosics and wool to produce shape-changing knitted fabrics suitable for adaptation to oil spill capture.
Results: At a cellular scale, confocal microscopy provided evidence to show that bacteria were able to utilise a water layer surrounding the fibres, supporting the hypothesis that fibres can aid bacterial translocation through their use as ‘fibre highways’. A motile bacterial culture, Pseudomonas putida, was shown to translocate around a liquid layer surrounding polyester, nylon, and linen fibres, yet no evidence of translocation was apparent on silk or wool fibres, suggesting microbes elicit different responses to specific fibre types. Findings showed that translocation activity around highways did not diminish in the presence of crude oil, known to contain an abundance of toxic compounds, in comparison to oil-free controls. A design series demonstrated the growth of fungal mycelium (Pleurotus ostreatus) through knitted structures, highlighting the ability for natural fabrics to provide a scaffold to support microbial communities whilst retaining the ability to undergo environmentally responsive shape-change. A final prototype, Ebb&Flow, demonstrated the potential to scale up the responsive capacities of the material system using locally produced UK wool. The prototype conceptualised both the uptake of a hydrocarbon pollutant by fibres, and the translocation of microbes along fibre highways.
Discussion: The research works towards facilitating the translation of fundamental science and design into biotechnological solutions that can be used in real world applications.
