This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
Andrea Zille graduated in Environmental Science with a Biochemistry specialization from the University of Venice (Italy) in 2000. Later, in 2005, he completed a PhD in Textile Chemistry Engineering at the University of Minho (Portugal) financed with an individual FCT grant working in enzymatic oxidation processes applied to textile materials. Between 2006 and 2011 he had two postdoctoral periods funded by two individual FCT postdoctoral grants. Since 2012 he has been the Senior Researcher at the Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T) at the University of Minho. Nowadays, he leads the investigation line “Bio- and nanotechnology applied to materials” consolidating his research line on the antimicrobial and antifouling properties of enzyme- and nanocoated polymeric materials. Since 2017 he has been the Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) at the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2019 refinement.
In this work, a shape memory polyurethane is characterized through constrained recovery experiments performed in a tensile testing equipment. The most relevant results obtained are those concerned with the stress released over time during the recovery stage, since they provide quantitative information that can be used in the design of actuators. For this sake, design guidelines are proposed based on the effect of: (i) the programming temperature; (ii) the deformation imposed during the programming stage; (iii) the recovery temperature; and (iv) the manufacturing process used to produce the samples tested (compression molding and Fused Filament Fabrication). The set of experiments performed with compression-molded samples put in evidence a considerable variety of material responses: (i) the maximum released stress varied from 0.74 to 1.68 MPa; (ii) the time required to attain this stress varied from 47 to 600 s; and (iii) the stress was released as a peak value that relaxed rapidly, or, contrarily, had a lasting effect. Another relevant conclusion is that the 3D printing technique does not affect the shape memory behavior of the material. Having this in mind, the conclusions provided by the compression-molded samples study can be extended to printed ones.
Carina Peixoto; Andrea Zille; Alexandre Ferreira da Silva; Olga Sousa Carneiro. Shape memory polymers as actuators: Characterization of the relevant parameters under constrained recovery. Polymer Engineering & Science 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleCarina Peixoto, Andrea Zille, Alexandre Ferreira da Silva, Olga Sousa Carneiro. Shape memory polymers as actuators: Characterization of the relevant parameters under constrained recovery. Polymer Engineering & Science. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarina Peixoto; Andrea Zille; Alexandre Ferreira da Silva; Olga Sousa Carneiro. 2021. "Shape memory polymers as actuators: Characterization of the relevant parameters under constrained recovery." Polymer Engineering & Science , no. : 1.
Andrea Zille; Sébastien Raoux. The urgency of measuring fluorinated greenhouse gas emission factors from the treatment of textile and other substrates. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2021, 174, 105820 .
AMA StyleAndrea Zille, Sébastien Raoux. The urgency of measuring fluorinated greenhouse gas emission factors from the treatment of textile and other substrates. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2021; 174 ():105820.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrea Zille; Sébastien Raoux. 2021. "The urgency of measuring fluorinated greenhouse gas emission factors from the treatment of textile and other substrates." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 174, no. : 105820.
Depositing nanoparticles in textiles have been a promising strategy to achieve multifunctional materials. Particularly, antimicrobial properties are highly valuable due to the emergence of new pathogens and the spread of existing ones. Several methods have been used to functionalize textile materials with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Therefore, this review highlighted the most used methods for AuNPs preparation and the current studies on the topic in order to obtain AuNPs with suitable properties for antimicrobial applications and minimize the environmental concerns in their production. Reporting the detailed information on the functionalization of fabrics, yarns, and fibers with AuNPs by different methods to improve the antimicrobial properties was the central objective. The studies combining AuNPs and textile materials have opened valuable opportunities to develop antimicrobial materials for health and hygiene products, as infection control and barrier material, with improved properties. Future studies are needed to amplify the antimicrobial effect of AuNPs onto textiles and minimize the concerns related to the synthesis.
Behnaz Mehravani; Ana Ribeiro; Andrea Zille. Gold Nanoparticles Synthesis and Antimicrobial Effect on Fibrous Materials. Nanomaterials 2021, 11, 1067 .
AMA StyleBehnaz Mehravani, Ana Ribeiro, Andrea Zille. Gold Nanoparticles Synthesis and Antimicrobial Effect on Fibrous Materials. Nanomaterials. 2021; 11 (5):1067.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBehnaz Mehravani; Ana Ribeiro; Andrea Zille. 2021. "Gold Nanoparticles Synthesis and Antimicrobial Effect on Fibrous Materials." Nanomaterials 11, no. 5: 1067.
Surfactants are multipurpose active compounds and are ubiquitously present in detergents. Detergent demand spiked due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, further alerting to the need to replace petrochemical synthetic surfactants with natural and renewable surfactants to mitigate further environmental damage. The neem tree ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is a fast-growing tree that provides a multitude of commodities, namely neem oil. Neem oil possesses insecticidal and medicinal activity. This work reports the extraction and characterization of a surfactant from neem oil (SNO), displaying a yield of approximately 100%. SNO exhibited suitable detergent characteristics with a high potential to be used as a cleansing agent for textile applications, such as high pH value (10.1), suitable foaming of 1.5 cm and a critical micelle concentration of nearly 0.12 g mL−1. In addition, SNO showed a moderate bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and bacteriostatic activity against Staphylococcus aureus, both common nosocomial pathogens. Therefore, SNO has a good potential to be used in medical textile applications due to its detergent and bactericidal properties. Finally, an economical overview of the SNO production process was assessed, underscoring its viability.
Christiane Siqueira de Azevedo Sá; Rasiah Ladchumananandasivam; Cátia Gft Rossi; Rita K da Silva; Wilka da Silva Camboim; Andrea Zille; Jorge Padrão; Késia K de Oliveira Souto Silva. Characterization of a natural surfactant from an essential oil from neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) for textile industry applications. Textile Research Journal 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleChristiane Siqueira de Azevedo Sá, Rasiah Ladchumananandasivam, Cátia Gft Rossi, Rita K da Silva, Wilka da Silva Camboim, Andrea Zille, Jorge Padrão, Késia K de Oliveira Souto Silva. Characterization of a natural surfactant from an essential oil from neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) for textile industry applications. Textile Research Journal. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristiane Siqueira de Azevedo Sá; Rasiah Ladchumananandasivam; Cátia Gft Rossi; Rita K da Silva; Wilka da Silva Camboim; Andrea Zille; Jorge Padrão; Késia K de Oliveira Souto Silva. 2021. "Characterization of a natural surfactant from an essential oil from neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) for textile industry applications." Textile Research Journal , no. : 1.
Nowadays, antimicrobial textiles have been widely applied in several sectors, including hospitals and healthcare centres, food industry, clothing industry and in the domestic environment. Antimicrobial textiles are particularly used in active patches and dressings for wound healing, infection prevention and control (IPC), deodorization and antifungi clothing, among other applications. This chapter reviews the characterization, standard testing methods, as well as existing regulations in Europe and the United States for antimicrobial textiles. Antimicrobial textiles were characterized based on their application area. A summary of the efficacy testing standards on antimicrobial textiles was presented and critically discussed. Safety evaluation, comprising the risk assessment was also introduced. The increasing use of antimicrobial textiles is in need of further development of regulations and international testing standards for safety and efficacy evaluation in vitro including preclinical testing if applicable. Moreover, particular attention was given to the development of durability test standards.
Xinyu Song; Jorge Padrão; Ana Isabel Ribeiro; Andrea Zille. Testing, characterization and regulations of antimicrobial textiles. Antimicrobial Textiles from Natural Resources 2021, 485 -511.
AMA StyleXinyu Song, Jorge Padrão, Ana Isabel Ribeiro, Andrea Zille. Testing, characterization and regulations of antimicrobial textiles. Antimicrobial Textiles from Natural Resources. 2021; ():485-511.
Chicago/Turabian StyleXinyu Song; Jorge Padrão; Ana Isabel Ribeiro; Andrea Zille. 2021. "Testing, characterization and regulations of antimicrobial textiles." Antimicrobial Textiles from Natural Resources , no. : 485-511.
In normal conditions, discarding single-use personal protective equipment after use is the rule for its users due to the possibility of being infected, particularly for masks and filtering facepiece respirators. When the demand for these protective tools is not satisfied by the companies supplying them, a scenario of shortages occurs, and new strategies must arise. One possible approach regards the disinfection of these pieces of equipment, but there are multiple methods. Analyzing these methods, Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) becomes an exciting option, given its germicidal capability. This paper aims to describe the state-of-the-art for UV-C sterilization in masks and filtering facepiece respirators. To achieve this goal, we adopted a systematic literature review in multiple databases added to a snowball method to make our sample as robust as possible and encompass a more significant number of studies. We found that UV-C’s germicidal capability is just as good as other sterilization methods. Combining this characteristic with other advantages makes UV-C sterilization desirable compared to other methods, despite its possible disadvantages.
Talita Nicolau; Núbio Filho; Andrea Zille. Ultraviolet-C as a Viable Reprocessing Method for Disposable Masks and Filtering Facepiece Respirators. Polymers 2021, 13, 801 .
AMA StyleTalita Nicolau, Núbio Filho, Andrea Zille. Ultraviolet-C as a Viable Reprocessing Method for Disposable Masks and Filtering Facepiece Respirators. Polymers. 2021; 13 (5):801.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTalita Nicolau; Núbio Filho; Andrea Zille. 2021. "Ultraviolet-C as a Viable Reprocessing Method for Disposable Masks and Filtering Facepiece Respirators." Polymers 13, no. 5: 801.
In recent years, textile industries have focused their attention on the development of functional finishing that presents durability and, consequently, controlled release. However, in the case of methyl salicylate microcapsules supported on a textile matrix, studies indicate only the interactions between substrate and microcapsules and the drug delivery system, not applying the release equations. This study reports the mechanism and kinetics of controlled release of microcapsules of gelatin and gum Arabic containing methyl salicylate as active ingredient incorporated into textile matrices. According to the results presented, it was possible to verify that the wall materials participated in the coacervation process, resulting in microcapsules with well-defined geometry, besides promoting the increase of the thermal stability of the active principle. The samples (100% cotton, CO, and 100% polyamide, PA) functionalized with microcapsules released methyl salicylate in a controlled manner, based on the adjustment made by the Korsmeyer–Peppas model, indicating a Fickian mechanism. The influence of temperature was noticeable when the samples were subjected to washing, since with higher temperature (50 °C), the release was more pronounced than when subjected to lower temperature (37 °C). The results presented in this study indicate that the mechanism of backbone release is influenced by the textile matrix and by the durability of the microcapsule during the wash cycles.
Samira Mendes; André Catarino; Andréa Zille; Nádia Fernandes; Fabricio Bezerra. Vehiculation of Methyl Salicylate from Microcapsules Supported on Textile Matrix. Materials 2021, 14, 1087 .
AMA StyleSamira Mendes, André Catarino, Andréa Zille, Nádia Fernandes, Fabricio Bezerra. Vehiculation of Methyl Salicylate from Microcapsules Supported on Textile Matrix. Materials. 2021; 14 (5):1087.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSamira Mendes; André Catarino; Andréa Zille; Nádia Fernandes; Fabricio Bezerra. 2021. "Vehiculation of Methyl Salicylate from Microcapsules Supported on Textile Matrix." Materials 14, no. 5: 1087.
Fabric structures are prone to contamination with microorganisms, as their morphology and ability to retain moisture creates a proper environment for their growth. In this work, a novel, easily processed and cheap coating for a nylon fabric with antimicrobial characteristics was developed. After plasma treatment, made to render the fabric surface more reactive sites, the fabric was impregnated with chitosan and silver nanoparticles by simply dipping it into a mixture of different concentrations of both components. Silver nanoparticles were previously synthesized using the Lee–Meisel method, and their successful obtention was proven by UV–Vis, showing the presence of the surface plasmon resonance band at 410 nm. Nanoparticles with 25 nm average diameter observed by STEM were stable, mainly in the presence of chitosan, which acted as a surfactant for silver nanoparticles, avoiding their aggregation. The impregnated fabric possessed bactericidal activity higher for Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus than for Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria for all combinations. The percentage of live S. aureus and P. aeruginosa CFU was reduced to less than 20% and 60%, respectively, when exposed to each of the coating combinations. The effect was more pronounced when both chitosan and silver were present in the coating, suggesting an effective synergy between these components. After a washing process, the antimicrobial effect was highly reduced, suggesting that the coating is unstable after washing, being almost completely removed from the fabric. Nevertheless, the new-coated fabric can be successfully used in single-use face masks. To our knowledge, the coating of nylon fabrics intended for face-mask material with both agents has never been reported.
Cláudia M. Botelho; Margarida M. Fernandes; Jefferson M. Souza; Nicolina Dias; Ana M. Sousa; José A. Teixeira; Raul Fangueiro; Andrea Zille. New Textile for Personal Protective Equipment—Plasma Chitosan/Silver Nanoparticles Nylon Fabric. Fibers 2021, 9, 3 .
AMA StyleCláudia M. Botelho, Margarida M. Fernandes, Jefferson M. Souza, Nicolina Dias, Ana M. Sousa, José A. Teixeira, Raul Fangueiro, Andrea Zille. New Textile for Personal Protective Equipment—Plasma Chitosan/Silver Nanoparticles Nylon Fabric. Fibers. 2021; 9 (1):3.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCláudia M. Botelho; Margarida M. Fernandes; Jefferson M. Souza; Nicolina Dias; Ana M. Sousa; José A. Teixeira; Raul Fangueiro; Andrea Zille. 2021. "New Textile for Personal Protective Equipment—Plasma Chitosan/Silver Nanoparticles Nylon Fabric." Fibers 9, no. 1: 3.
The SARS‐CoV‐2 virus outbreak revealed that these nano‐pathogens have the ability to rapidly change lives. Undoubtedly, SARS‐CoV‐2 as well as other viruses can cause important global impacts, affecting public health, as well as, socioeconomic development. But viruses are not only a public health concern, they are also a problem in agriculture. The current treatments are often ineffective, are prone to develop resistance, or cause considerable adverse side effects. The use of nanotechnology has played an important role to combat viral diseases. In this review three main aspects are in focus: first, the potential use of nanoparticles as carriers for drug delivery. Second, its use for treatments of some human viral diseases, and third, its application as antivirals in plants. With these three themes, the aim is to give to readers an overview of the progress in this promising area of biotechnology during the 2017–2020 period, and to provide a glance at how tangible is the effectiveness of nanotechnology against viruses. Future prospects are also discussed. It is hoped that this review can be a contribution to general knowledge for both specialized and non‐specialized readers, allowing a better knowledge of this interesting topic.
Gonzalo R. Tortella; Olga Rubilar; María Cristina Diez; Jorge Padrão; Andrea Zille; Joana C. Pieretti; Amedea B. Seabra. Advanced Material Against Human (Including Covid‐19) and Plant Viruses: Nanoparticles As a Feasible Strategy. Global Challenges 2020, 5, 1 .
AMA StyleGonzalo R. Tortella, Olga Rubilar, María Cristina Diez, Jorge Padrão, Andrea Zille, Joana C. Pieretti, Amedea B. Seabra. Advanced Material Against Human (Including Covid‐19) and Plant Viruses: Nanoparticles As a Feasible Strategy. Global Challenges. 2020; 5 (3):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGonzalo R. Tortella; Olga Rubilar; María Cristina Diez; Jorge Padrão; Andrea Zille; Joana C. Pieretti; Amedea B. Seabra. 2020. "Advanced Material Against Human (Including Covid‐19) and Plant Viruses: Nanoparticles As a Feasible Strategy." Global Challenges 5, no. 3: 1.
A previously developed fiber-based polyester (PES) stent, with mechanical properties comparable to commercial nitinol stents, was coated with metallic silver (Ag0) and silver oxides (AgxO) thin films through direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering. Ag0 and AgxO coatings provide antimicrobial properties to the stents to minimize the occurrence of coronary stent infections. Nevertheless, the stent interacts with the atmosphere and then with the biological fluids and may lead to the generation of silver species with diminished antimicrobial efficiency and/or prone to induce cytotoxicity. Therefore, stent coating nanostructures aged 3 months were thoroughly analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and their antimicrobial and cytotoxicity properties were assessed. Aging led to the presence of silver carbonate and bicarbonate as well as chemisorbed oxygen species in Ag0 and AgxO coatings. Bactericidal efficacy was tested against an important nosocomial bacterium, particularly associated to indwelling devices: Staphylococcus epidermidis. Aged Ag0 and AgxO coating presented a Log reduction of 1 and 2 at their surface; respectively. However, aged stents were able to induce a Log reduction of 2 (Ag0) and 4 (AgxO) on the surrounding medium. Only aged AgxO stent was able to provide a mild reduction of the bacterium at its surface and a clear antimicrobial effect (Log reduction >3) within its vicinity. More importantly, both aged Ag0 and AgxO stents were shown to be compatible with fibroblasts cells indicating that they can be safely used as indwelling devices, despite the aging effect.
Rita Rebelo; Jorge Padrão; Margarida M. Fernandes; Sandra Carvalho; Mariana Henriques; Andrea Zille; Raul Fangueiro. Aging Effect on Functionalized Silver-Based Nanocoating Braided Coronary Stents. Coatings 2020, 10, 1234 .
AMA StyleRita Rebelo, Jorge Padrão, Margarida M. Fernandes, Sandra Carvalho, Mariana Henriques, Andrea Zille, Raul Fangueiro. Aging Effect on Functionalized Silver-Based Nanocoating Braided Coronary Stents. Coatings. 2020; 10 (12):1234.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRita Rebelo; Jorge Padrão; Margarida M. Fernandes; Sandra Carvalho; Mariana Henriques; Andrea Zille; Raul Fangueiro. 2020. "Aging Effect on Functionalized Silver-Based Nanocoating Braided Coronary Stents." Coatings 10, no. 12: 1234.
The increased resistance of bacteria against conventional pharmaceutical solutions, the antibiotics, has raised serious health concerns. This has stimulated interest in the development of bio-based therapeutics with limited resistance, namely, essential oils (EOs) or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). This study envisaged the evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of selected biomolecules, namely LL37, pexiganan, tea tree oil (TTO), cinnamon leaf oil (CLO) and niaouli oil (NO), against four bacteria commonly associated to nosocomial infections: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibiotic vancomycin and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were used as control compounds for comparison purposes. The biomolecules were initially screened for their antibacterial efficacy using the agar-diffusion test, followed by the determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), kill-time kinetics and the evaluation of the cell morphology upon 24 h exposure. All agents were effective against the selected bacteria. Interestingly, the AgNPs required a higher concentration (4000–1250 μg/mL) to induce the same effects as the AMPs (500–7.8 μg/mL) or EOs (365.2–19.7 μg/mL). Pexiganan and CLO were the most effective biomolecules, requiring lower concentrations to kill both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (62.5–7.8 μg/mL and 39.3–19.7 μg/mL, respectively), within a short period of time (averaging 2 h 15 min for all bacteria). Most biomolecules apparently disrupted the bacteria membrane stability due to the observed cell morphology deformation and by effecting on the intracellular space. AMPs were observed to induce morphological deformations and cellular content release, while EOs were seen to split and completely envelope bacteria. Data unraveled more of the potential of these new biomolecules as replacements for the conventional antibiotics and allowed us to take a step forward in the understanding of their mechanisms of action against infection-related bacteria.
Tânia D. Tavares; Joana C. Antunes; Jorge Padrão; Ana I. Ribeiro; Andrea Zille; M. Teresa P. Amorim; Fernando Ferreira; Helena P. Felgueiras. Activity of Specialized Biomolecules against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria. Antibiotics 2020, 9, 1 .
AMA StyleTânia D. Tavares, Joana C. Antunes, Jorge Padrão, Ana I. Ribeiro, Andrea Zille, M. Teresa P. Amorim, Fernando Ferreira, Helena P. Felgueiras. Activity of Specialized Biomolecules against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria. Antibiotics. 2020; 9 (6):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTânia D. Tavares; Joana C. Antunes; Jorge Padrão; Ana I. Ribeiro; Andrea Zille; M. Teresa P. Amorim; Fernando Ferreira; Helena P. Felgueiras. 2020. "Activity of Specialized Biomolecules against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria." Antibiotics 9, no. 6: 1.
A polyurethane (PU)-based eco-composite foam was prepared using dog wool fibers as a filler. Fibers were acquired from pet shops and alkaline treated prior to use. The influence of their incorporation on the PU foams’ morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties was investigated. The random and disorganized presence of the microfibers along the foam influence their mechanical performance. Tensile and compression strengths were improved with the increased amount of dog wool microparticles on the eco-composites. The same occurred with the foams’ hydration capacity. The thermal capacity was also slightly enhanced with the incorporation of the fillers. The fillers also increased the thermal stability of the foams, reducing their dilatation with heating. The best structural stability was obtained using up to 120 °C with a maximum of 15% of filler. In the end, the dog wool waste was rationally valorized as a filler in PU foams, demonstrating its potential for insulation applications, with a low cost and minimal environmental impact.
Francisco Claudivan Da Silva; Helena P. Felgueiras; Rasiah Ladchumananandasivam; José Ubiragi L. Mendes; Késia Karina De O. Souto Silva; Andrea Zille. Dog Wool Microparticles/Polyurethane Composite for Thermal Insulation. Polymers 2020, 12, 1098 .
AMA StyleFrancisco Claudivan Da Silva, Helena P. Felgueiras, Rasiah Ladchumananandasivam, José Ubiragi L. Mendes, Késia Karina De O. Souto Silva, Andrea Zille. Dog Wool Microparticles/Polyurethane Composite for Thermal Insulation. Polymers. 2020; 12 (5):1098.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancisco Claudivan Da Silva; Helena P. Felgueiras; Rasiah Ladchumananandasivam; José Ubiragi L. Mendes; Késia Karina De O. Souto Silva; Andrea Zille. 2020. "Dog Wool Microparticles/Polyurethane Composite for Thermal Insulation." Polymers 12, no. 5: 1098.
A.J. Paleo; Andrea Zille; F.W. Van Hattum; A. Ares-Pernas; J. Agostinho Moreira. Corrigendum to “Dielectric relaxation of near-percolated carbon nanofiber polypropylene composites” [Physica B: Phys. Condens. Matter 516C (2017) 41–47]. Physica B: Condensed Matter 2020, 589, 412198 .
AMA StyleA.J. Paleo, Andrea Zille, F.W. Van Hattum, A. Ares-Pernas, J. Agostinho Moreira. Corrigendum to “Dielectric relaxation of near-percolated carbon nanofiber polypropylene composites” [Physica B: Phys. Condens. Matter 516C (2017) 41–47]. Physica B: Condensed Matter. 2020; 589 ():412198.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA.J. Paleo; Andrea Zille; F.W. Van Hattum; A. Ares-Pernas; J. Agostinho Moreira. 2020. "Corrigendum to “Dielectric relaxation of near-percolated carbon nanofiber polypropylene composites” [Physica B: Phys. Condens. Matter 516C (2017) 41–47]." Physica B: Condensed Matter 589, no. : 412198.
Novel coatings containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with strong bonding and controllable antibacterial activity on polyamide 6,6 fabric were produced by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma-assisted deposition at atmospheric pressure and hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) layers. Silver ion release was tuned using a "sandwich" coating structure to prolong the antibacterial effect. The novel spray-assisted deposition increased deposition rates of AgNPs using atmospheric pressure DBD plasma treatment when an HMDSO layer was applied. An increase in AgNPs deposition in plasma treated samples and antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) for samples with an additional HMDSO layer was observed. These coatings allow the development of new and safe wound dressings able to switch the antimicrobial effect against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by washing the dressing at high temperature (75 °C) before application.
Ana Ribeiro; M. Modic; U. Cvelbar; G. Dinescu; B. Mitu; A. Nikiforov; C. Leys; I. Kuchakova; A. P. Souto; Andrea Zille. Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Spray Deposition of Silver/HMDSO Nanocomposite on Polyamide 6,6 with Controllable Antibacterial Activity. AATCC Journal of Research 2020, 7, 1 -6.
AMA StyleAna Ribeiro, M. Modic, U. Cvelbar, G. Dinescu, B. Mitu, A. Nikiforov, C. Leys, I. Kuchakova, A. P. Souto, Andrea Zille. Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Spray Deposition of Silver/HMDSO Nanocomposite on Polyamide 6,6 with Controllable Antibacterial Activity. AATCC Journal of Research. 2020; 7 (3):1-6.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAna Ribeiro; M. Modic; U. Cvelbar; G. Dinescu; B. Mitu; A. Nikiforov; C. Leys; I. Kuchakova; A. P. Souto; Andrea Zille. 2020. "Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Spray Deposition of Silver/HMDSO Nanocomposite on Polyamide 6,6 with Controllable Antibacterial Activity." AATCC Journal of Research 7, no. 3: 1-6.
Polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silver nanoparticles (PVP-AgNPs) dispersed in ethanol, water and water/alginate were used to functionalize untreated and dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma-treated polyamide 6,6 fabric (PA66). The PVP-AgNPs dispersions were deposited onto PA66 by spray and exhaustion methods. The exhaustion method showed a higher amount of deposited AgNPs. Water and water-alginate dispersions presented similar results. Ethanol amphiphilic character showed more affinity to AgNPs and PA66 fabric, allowing better uniform surface distribution of nanoparticles. Antimicrobial effect in E. coli showed good results in all the samples obtained by exhaustion method but using spray method only the DBD plasma treated samples displayed antimicrobial activity (log reduction of 5). Despite the better distribution achieved using ethanol as a solvent, water dispersion samples with DBD plasma treatment displayed better antimicrobial activity against S. aureus bacteria in both exhaustion (log reduction of 1.9) and spray (methods log reduction of 1.6) due to the different oxidation states of PA66 surface interacting with PVP-AgNPs, as demonstrated by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Spray method using the water-suspended PVP-AgNPs onto DBD plasma-treated samples is much faster, less agglomerating and uses 10 times less PVP-AgNPs dispersion than the exhaustion method to obtain an antimicrobial effect in both S. aureus and E. coli.
Ana I. Ribeiro; Martina Modic; Uros Cvelbar; Gheorghe Dinescu; Bogdana Mitu; Anton Nikiforov; Christophe Leys; Iryna Kuchakova; Mike De Vrieze; Helena P. Felgueiras; António P. Souto; Andrea Zille. Effect of Dispersion Solvent on the Deposition of PVP-Silver Nanoparticles onto DBD Plasma-Treated Polyamide 6,6 Fabric and Its Antimicrobial Efficiency. Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 607 .
AMA StyleAna I. Ribeiro, Martina Modic, Uros Cvelbar, Gheorghe Dinescu, Bogdana Mitu, Anton Nikiforov, Christophe Leys, Iryna Kuchakova, Mike De Vrieze, Helena P. Felgueiras, António P. Souto, Andrea Zille. Effect of Dispersion Solvent on the Deposition of PVP-Silver Nanoparticles onto DBD Plasma-Treated Polyamide 6,6 Fabric and Its Antimicrobial Efficiency. Nanomaterials. 2020; 10 (4):607.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAna I. Ribeiro; Martina Modic; Uros Cvelbar; Gheorghe Dinescu; Bogdana Mitu; Anton Nikiforov; Christophe Leys; Iryna Kuchakova; Mike De Vrieze; Helena P. Felgueiras; António P. Souto; Andrea Zille. 2020. "Effect of Dispersion Solvent on the Deposition of PVP-Silver Nanoparticles onto DBD Plasma-Treated Polyamide 6,6 Fabric and Its Antimicrobial Efficiency." Nanomaterials 10, no. 4: 607.
Thin film deposition with atmospheric pressure plasmas is highly interesting for industrial demands and scientific interests in the field of biomaterials. However, the engineering of high-quality films by high-pressure plasmas with precise control over morphology and surface chemistry still poses a challenge. The two types of atmospheric-pressure plasma depositions of organosilicon films by the direct and indirect injection of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) precursor into a plasma region were chosen and compared in terms of the films chemical composition and morphology to address this. Although different methods of plasma excitation were used, the deposition of inorganic films with above 98% of SiO2 content was achieved for both cases. The chemical structure of the films was insignificantly dependent on the substrate type. The deposition in the afterglow of the DC discharge resulted in a soft film with high roughness, whereas RF plasma deposition led to a smoother film. In the case of the RF plasma deposition on polymeric materials resulted in films with delamination and cracks formation. Lastly, despite some material limitations, both deposition methods demonstrated significant potential for SiOx thin-films preparation for a variety of bio-related substrates, including glass, ceramics, metals, and polymers.
Iryna Kuchakova; Maria Daniela Ionita; Eusebiu-Rosini Ionita; Andrada Lazea-Stoyanova; Simona Brajnicov; Bogdana Mitu; Gheorghe Dinescu; Mike De Vrieze; Uroš Cvelbar; Andrea Zille; Christophe Leys; Anton Yu Nikiforov. Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Deposition of Organosilicon Thin Films by Direct Current and Radio-frequency Plasma Jets. Materials 2020, 13, 1296 .
AMA StyleIryna Kuchakova, Maria Daniela Ionita, Eusebiu-Rosini Ionita, Andrada Lazea-Stoyanova, Simona Brajnicov, Bogdana Mitu, Gheorghe Dinescu, Mike De Vrieze, Uroš Cvelbar, Andrea Zille, Christophe Leys, Anton Yu Nikiforov. Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Deposition of Organosilicon Thin Films by Direct Current and Radio-frequency Plasma Jets. Materials. 2020; 13 (6):1296.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIryna Kuchakova; Maria Daniela Ionita; Eusebiu-Rosini Ionita; Andrada Lazea-Stoyanova; Simona Brajnicov; Bogdana Mitu; Gheorghe Dinescu; Mike De Vrieze; Uroš Cvelbar; Andrea Zille; Christophe Leys; Anton Yu Nikiforov. 2020. "Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Deposition of Organosilicon Thin Films by Direct Current and Radio-frequency Plasma Jets." Materials 13, no. 6: 1296.
The aim of this study was to undergo a comprehensive analysis of the thermo-mechanical properties of nasal cartilages for the future design of a composite polymeric material to be used in human nose reconstruction surgery. A thermal and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) in tension and compression modes within the ranges 1 to 20 Hz and 30 °C to 250 °C was performed on human nasal cartilage. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as characterization of the nasal septum (NS), upper lateral cartilages (ULC), and lower lateral cartilages (LLC) reveals the different nature of the binding water inside the studied specimens. Three peaks at 60–80 °C, 100–130 °C, and 200 °C were attributed to melting of the crystalline region of collagen matrix, water evaporation, and the strongly bound non-interstitial water in the cartilage and composite specimens, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the degradation of cartilage, composite, and subcutaneous tissue of the NS, ULC, and LLC take place in three thermal events (~37 °C, ~189 °C, and ~290 °C) showing that cartilage releases more water and more rapidly than the subcutaneous tissue. The water content of nasal cartilage was estimated to be 42 wt %. The results of the DMA analyses demonstrated that tensile mode is ruled by flow-independent behaviour produced by the time-dependent deformability of the solid cartilage matrix that is strongly frequency-dependent, showing an unstable crystalline region between 80–180 °C, an amorphous region at around 120 °C, and a clear glass transition point at 200 °C (780 kJ/mol). Instead, the unconfined compressive mode is clearly ruled by a flow-dependent process caused by the frictional force of the interstitial fluid that flows within the cartilage matrix resulting in higher stiffness (from 12 MPa at 1 Hz to 16 MPa at 20 Hz in storage modulus). The outcomes of this study will support the development of an artificial material to mimic the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the natural cartilage of the human nose.
Aureliano Fertuzinhos; Marta A. Teixeira; Miguel Goncalves Ferreira; Rui Fernandes; Rossana Correia; Ana Rita Malheiro; Paulo Flores; Andrea Zille; Nuno Dourado. Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour of Human Nasal Cartilage. Polymers 2020, 12, 177 .
AMA StyleAureliano Fertuzinhos, Marta A. Teixeira, Miguel Goncalves Ferreira, Rui Fernandes, Rossana Correia, Ana Rita Malheiro, Paulo Flores, Andrea Zille, Nuno Dourado. Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour of Human Nasal Cartilage. Polymers. 2020; 12 (1):177.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAureliano Fertuzinhos; Marta A. Teixeira; Miguel Goncalves Ferreira; Rui Fernandes; Rossana Correia; Ana Rita Malheiro; Paulo Flores; Andrea Zille; Nuno Dourado. 2020. "Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour of Human Nasal Cartilage." Polymers 12, no. 1: 177.
Monodisperse latex nanospheres of poly(styrene‐methyl methacrylate‐acrylic acid) with different sizes were synthetised by soap‐free emulsion copolymerisation and applied onto polyamide 6,6 fabrics by two methods, ie, gravitational sedimentation and dip‐drawing. Different‐sized nanospheres were synthetised by varying temperature and stirring velocity as reaction parameters. Scanning electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy were used to evaluate nanosphere sizes and deposition structures. The results showed two different nanosphere structural arrangements on the fabric surface, a hexagonal packed centre structure in the even surfaces and a square arrangement in the out‐of‐plane surfaces. Different colours were observed according to particle size, namely, violet (ca. 170 nm), blue (ca. 190 nm), green (ca. 210 nm), yellow (ca. 230 nm) and red (ca. 250 nm). An iridescence effect was also observed, displaying different colours at different observation angles. By controlling the size of the nanospheres it was possible to obtain different, brilliant and iridescent colours. Using different nanosphere sizes it was possible to obtain different interplanar distances and to control the light scattering in the crystalline lattice planes, obtaining Bragg diffraction patterns.
Rui D. V. Fernandes; Pedro Gomes; Andrea Zille; António P. Souto. The influence of chemical reaction conditions upon poly(styrene‐methyl methacrylate‐acrylic acid) synthesis: Variations in nanoparticle size, colour and deposition methods. Coloration Technology 2019, 1 .
AMA StyleRui D. V. Fernandes, Pedro Gomes, Andrea Zille, António P. Souto. The influence of chemical reaction conditions upon poly(styrene‐methyl methacrylate‐acrylic acid) synthesis: Variations in nanoparticle size, colour and deposition methods. Coloration Technology. 2019; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRui D. V. Fernandes; Pedro Gomes; Andrea Zille; António P. Souto. 2019. "The influence of chemical reaction conditions upon poly(styrene‐methyl methacrylate‐acrylic acid) synthesis: Variations in nanoparticle size, colour and deposition methods." Coloration Technology , no. : 1.
Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) has been increasingly used in cutaneous tissue engineering due to its low cost, ease of handling, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, as well as its ability to form composites. However, these polymers possess a structure with nanoporous that mimic the cellular environment. In this study, nanocomposites are prepared using PLA and titanium dioxide (TiO2) (10 and 35%—w/w) nanoparticles that also function as an active anti-scarring agent. The nanocomposites were prepared using an electrospinning technique. Three different solutions were prepared as follows: PLA, 10% PLA/TiO2, and 35% PLA/TiO2 (w/w%). Electrospun PLA and PLA/TiO2 nanocomposites were characterized morphologically, structurally, and chemically using electron scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, goniometry, and X-ray diffraction. L929 fibroblast cells were used for in vitro tests. The cytotoxic effect was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays. Versicam (VCAN), biglicam (BIG), interleukin-6 (IL6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and type-1 collagen (COL1A1) genes were evaluated by RT-qPCR. In vivo tests using Wistar rats were conducted for up to 15 days. Nanofibrous fibers were obtained for all groups that did not contain residual solvents. No cytotoxic effects were observed for up to 168 h. The genes expressed showed the highest values of versican and collagen-1 (p < 0.05) for PLA/TiO2 nanocomposite scaffolds when compared to the control group (cells). Histological images showed that PLA at 10 and 35% w/w led to a discrete inflammatory infiltration and expression of many newly formed vessels, indicating increased metabolic activity of this tissue. To summarize, this study supported the potential of PLA/TiO2 nanocomposites ability to reduce cutaneous scarring in scaffolds.
Teresa C. O. Marsi; Ritchelli Ricci; Tatiane V. Toniato; Luana M. R. Vasconcellos; Conceição De Maria Vaz Elias; André Diniz Rosa da Silva; Andre S. A. Furtado; Leila S. S. M. Magalhães; Edson Silva Filho; Fernanda R. Marciano; Andrea Zille; Thomas J. Webster; Anderson O. Lobo. Electrospun Nanofibrous Poly (Lactic Acid)/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposite Membranes for Cutaneous Scar Minimization. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 2019, 7, 1 .
AMA StyleTeresa C. O. Marsi, Ritchelli Ricci, Tatiane V. Toniato, Luana M. R. Vasconcellos, Conceição De Maria Vaz Elias, André Diniz Rosa da Silva, Andre S. A. Furtado, Leila S. S. M. Magalhães, Edson Silva Filho, Fernanda R. Marciano, Andrea Zille, Thomas J. Webster, Anderson O. Lobo. Electrospun Nanofibrous Poly (Lactic Acid)/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposite Membranes for Cutaneous Scar Minimization. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 2019; 7 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTeresa C. O. Marsi; Ritchelli Ricci; Tatiane V. Toniato; Luana M. R. Vasconcellos; Conceição De Maria Vaz Elias; André Diniz Rosa da Silva; Andre S. A. Furtado; Leila S. S. M. Magalhães; Edson Silva Filho; Fernanda R. Marciano; Andrea Zille; Thomas J. Webster; Anderson O. Lobo. 2019. "Electrospun Nanofibrous Poly (Lactic Acid)/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposite Membranes for Cutaneous Scar Minimization." Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 7, no. : 1.
The physico-chemical interactions between alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (ADBAC) as disinfectant and 3 commercial wiping materials made from 100% polyester (PET), 55%cellulose/45%PET (blend) and 100% cellulose were investigated after treatment with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma at atmospheric pressure. Wipe material type in terms of cellulose content, liquor ratio and immersion time demonstrated a significant influence on the adsorption of ADBAC. The higher the content of cellulose in the material, the higher is the adsorption of ADBAC active ingredient. The antimicrobial tests confirm that the ADBAC adsorbed on pure cellulosic material are inactivated losing their bactericidal activity, while 100% PET and blend wipes showed good antimicrobial efficacy. XPS analysis demonstrates the strong interactions of ADBAC with the plasma-generated oxygen species in the polyester-containing wipes surface. Unexpectedly, plasma-treated blend wipe displays a reverse antimicrobial effect compared to untreated samples, performing better in Gram-negative bacteria. The best result was obtained in the plasma treated 100% polyester wipe showing an improved of about 20% in Gram-positive bacteria and an excellent performance in Gram-negative ones. This method allows the unprecedented use of pure polyester as effective wiping material for surface disinfection eliminating the major drawback of pure polyester, its high hydrophobicity.
Xinyu Song; Uros Cvelbar; Petra Stražar; Lutz Vossebein; Andrea Zille. Antimicrobial Efficiency and Surface Interactions of Quaternary Ammonium Compound Absorbed on Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Plasma Treated Fiber-Based Wiping Materials. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2019, 12, 298 -311.
AMA StyleXinyu Song, Uros Cvelbar, Petra Stražar, Lutz Vossebein, Andrea Zille. Antimicrobial Efficiency and Surface Interactions of Quaternary Ammonium Compound Absorbed on Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Plasma Treated Fiber-Based Wiping Materials. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 2019; 12 (1):298-311.
Chicago/Turabian StyleXinyu Song; Uros Cvelbar; Petra Stražar; Lutz Vossebein; Andrea Zille. 2019. "Antimicrobial Efficiency and Surface Interactions of Quaternary Ammonium Compound Absorbed on Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Plasma Treated Fiber-Based Wiping Materials." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 12, no. 1: 298-311.