One method for adding enhancing properties to textile materials is the insertion of natural ingredients into the textile products during the manufacturing or finishing process. The aim of this research is to investigate the formation of biodegradable melt-spun multifilament Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) yarns with different contents (i.e., 5%, 10%, and 15%) of natural material–rosin, also known as colophony. In this study, multifilament yarns were successfully formed from PLA and a natural substance–pine rosin by melt-spinning them at two different draw ratios (i.e., 1.75 and 2.75). The results indicated that a 1.75 draw ratio caused the formation of PLA and PLA/rosin yarns that were brittle. The presence of rosin (i.e., 5% and 10%) in multifilament yarns decreased the mechanical properties of the PLA/rosin melt-spun multifilament yarns’ tenacity (cN/tex), breaking tenacity (cN/tex), and tensile strain (%) and elongation at break (%) and increased absorbance in the entire UV region spectra. In addition, the melting point and degree of crystallinity decreased and there was an increase in the wetting angle compared with pure PLA multifilament. The investigation of melt-spun yarns with Raman spectroscopy proved the presence of rosin in PLA melt-spun yarns.

The search of possibilities to improve the functional properties of textile materials has been continuing for years with the aim to provide higher hygiene characteristics offer advanced therapeutic functionality. One of available approaches to provide new properties for textiles is the inclusion of natural ingredients. Propolis extracts are successfully used in practical therapeutics for accelerated wound healing and cell proliferation processes. In this study, pure multi-filament yarns and yarns saturated with propolis were developed and characterized. The effect of preparation and formulation parameters on the characteristics of yarns was evaluated; the release of propolis extract components from yarns and their possible cytotoxicity on cell formation was also determined.

An electrospun mat of Eudragit E100 (EE100) (a cationic copolymer based on dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, and methyl methacrylate) was used as a delivery system for oregano ethanolic extract (OEE). Oregano is a biologically active material which is widely used because of the antibacterial and antifungal activity. The oregano herb consists of phenolic compounds, the main of which are rosmarinic acid and from essential oil—carvacrol. Such a material could be an ideal candidate for oral drug systems. The influence of the EE100 concentration in the OEE on the structure of electrospun mats, encapsulation efficiency, dissolution profile, release kinetics and the stability of biologically active compounds was investigated. The concentration of the solution is a critical parameter for the structure and properties of electrospun mats. The diameter of electrospun fibers increased with the increase of EE100 concentration in the OEE. Electrospun mats obtained from 24% to 32% EE100 solutions showed high encapsulation efficiency, quick release and high stability of rosmarinic acid and carvacrol. Dissolution tests showed that 99% of carvacrol and 80% of rosmarinic acid were released after 10 min from electrospun nano-microfiber mats and capsules obtained from such formulations. The stability tests showed that physicochemical properties, dissolution profiles, and rosmarinic acid and carvacrol contents of the formulations were not significantly affected by storage.

A possible approach for providing new properties for textiles is the insertion of natural ingredients into the textile product during the process of its manufacture. Myrrh has long been used in medicine as an antibacterial and antifungal material. Polylactide (PLA) is a thermoplastic synthetic biopolymer obtained from renewable resources—and due its biodegradability, is also widely used in medicine. In this study, films and multifilament yarns from modified biodegradable PLA granules with ethanolic and aqueous myrrh extracts were developed and characterized. Optical microscopy was used to determine the surface morphology of PLA/myrrh multifilament yarns. Tensile tests, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were applied to determine, consequently, mechanical, optical properties and degree of crystallinity of PLA/myrrh films and multifilament yarns. The chemical composition of PLA/myrrh multifilament yarns was estimated by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy method. The results showed that it is possible to form PLA melt-spun multifilament yarns with myrrh extract. The type of myrrh extract (ethanolic or aqueous) has a significant influence on the mechanical and optical properties of the PLA films and melt-spun yarns. The mechanical properties of PLA films and melt-spun multifilament yarns formed from PLA granules with aqueous myrrh extract decreased 19% and 21% more than PLA with ethanolic extract, respectively. Analysis of UV-vis spectra showed that, due to the yellow hue, the reflectance of PLA films and melt-spun PLA multifilament yarns modified with myrrh extracts decreased exponentially. The DSC test showed that multifilament yarns from PLA modified with aqueous extract had the highest degree of crystallization.

Electrospun mats from nano/micro-fibers with control porosity and pore shape may be ideal candidate for tissue engineering scaffolds. In this study three type of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) mats of 48-65 µm thickness with different nano/micro-fibers diameters mostly of 100-200 nm were deposited by electrospinning process. Controlled density porosity in the electrospun mats was introduced by Yb:KGW femtosecond laser micromachining system. The influence of electrospun mat micro structure, the distance between the adjacent laser ablation points, the number of femtosecond laser pulses on quality and structure of laser irradiated holes were investigated. It was demonstrated that the quality of irradiated holes depend on structure of electrospun mats (diameter of nano/micro-fibers, thickness of mats) and femtosecond laser processing parameters. Varying the distance between points and number of applied femtosecond laser pulses it is possible to fabricate electrospun mats with pores of 22-36 μm diameter. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.21.1.10249

This study presents the development of antibacterial electrospun nanofibrous mats composed of keratin and polyethylene oxide, incorporating Echinacea purpurea L. (EchP) and green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (bioAgNPs) produced using EchP extract. The successful synthesis of bioAgNPs was confirmed by colorimetric analysis, FTIR, XRD, and TEM. In vitro assays demonstrated antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at ~0.6 µg/mL. Keratin, extracted from sheep wool, retained partial native structure, supporting biocompatibility and cellular regeneration. Incorporation of EchP or bioAgNPs reduced solution viscosity by 25–45%, significantly affecting mat morphology and shifting fiber diameters toward the 50–100 nm range. Quantitative phytochemical analysis, conducted via UV-Vis spectrophotometry, showed 2–3 times higher release of tannins and phenolic compounds compared to hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids. Keratin electrospun mats with bioAgNPs exhibited about 1.5-fold lower polyphenol release, confirming the dual role of polyphenols as electron donors in Ag⁺ bioreduction and as stabilizers.