title: Water-repellent cellulose fiber networks with multifunctional properties.
abstract: We demonstrate a simple but highly efficient technique to introduce multifunctional properties to cellulose fiber networks by wetting them with ethyl-cyanoacrylate monomer solutions containing various suspended organic submicrometer particles or inorganic nanoparticles. Solutions can be applied on cellulosic surfaces by simple solution casting techniques or by dip coating, both being suitable for large area applications. Immediately after solvent evaporation, ethyl-cyanoacrylate starts cross-linking around cellulose fibers under ambient conditions because of naturally occurring surface hydroxyl groups and adsorbed moisture, encapsulating them with a hydrophobic polymer shell. Furthermore, by dispersing various functional particles in the monomer solutions, hydrophobic ethyl-cyanoacrylate nanocomposites with desired functionalities can be formed around the cellulose fibers. To exhibit the versatility of the method, cellulose sheets were functionalized with different ethyl-cyanoacrylate nanocomposite shells comprising submicrometer wax or polytetrafluoroethylene particles for superhydophobicity, MnFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles for magnetic activity, CdSe/ZnS quantum dots for light emission, and silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial activity. Morphological and functional properties of each system have been studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, detailed contact angle measurements, light emission spectra and E. coli bacterial growth measurements. A plethora of potential applications can be envisioned for this technique, such as food and industrial packaging, document protection, catalytic cellulosic membranes, textronic (electrofunctional textiles), electromagnetic devices, authentication of valuable documents, and antimicrobial wound healing products to name a few.
authors: Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies @Unile, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 73010 Lecce, Italy.
authors: Ilker S
authors: IS
authors: Bayer
authors: Despina
authors: D
authors: Fragouli
authors: Agnese
authors: A
authors: Attanasio
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Sorce
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Bertoni
authors: Rosaria
authors: R
authors: Brescia
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Di Corato
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Pellegrino
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Kalyva
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Sabella
authors: Pier Paolo
authors: PP
authors: Pompa
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Cingolani
authors: Athanassia
authors: A
authors: Athanassiou
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000295:instrumentation; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014867:Water; D012834:Silver; D002482:Cellulose