title: Multifunctional ZnO/Nylon 6 nanofiber mats by an electrospinning-electrospraying hybrid process for use in protective applications.
abstract: ZnO/Nylon 6 nanofiber mats were prepared by an electrospinning-electrospraying hybrid process in which ZnO nanoparticles were dispersed on the surface of Nylon 6 nanofibers without becoming completely embedded. The prepared ZnO/Nylon 6 nanofiber mats were evaluated for their abilities to kill bacteria or inhibit their growth and to catalytically detoxify chemicals. Results showed that these ZnO/Nylon 6 nanofiber mats had excellent antibacterial efficiency (99.99%) against both the Gram-negativeEscherichia coliand Gram-positiveBacillus cereusbacteria. In addition, they exhibited good detoxifying efficiency (95%) against paraoxon, a simulant of highly toxic chemicals. ZnO/Nylon 6 nanofiber mats were also deposited onto nylon/cotton woven fabrics and the nanofiber mats did not significantly affect the moisture vapor transmission rates and air permeability values of the fabrics. Therefore, ZnO/Nylon 6 nanofiber mats prepared by the electrospinning-electrospraying hybrid process are promising material candidates for protective applications.
authors.affiliation: Fiber and Polymer Science Program, Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8301, USA.
authors.forename: Narendiran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vitchuli
authors.affiliation: Fiber and Polymer Science Program, Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8301, USA.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7909, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7610, USA; Department of Food Science, North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7624, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7624, USA; US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7624, USA.
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7624, USA; US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7624, USA.
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Breidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7909, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bourham
authors.affiliation: Fiber and Polymer Science Program, Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8301, USA; Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7115, USA, and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCord
authors.affiliation: Fiber and Polymer Science Program, Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8301, USA.
authors.forename: Xiangwu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: Nylon 6; antibacterial; detoxification; electrospinning; electrospraying; zinc oxide