Preparation and characterization of α-chitin from cicada sloughs

In this study, a new source of insect chitin was proposed. Insect chitin was extracted from cicada sloughs by 1 M HCl and 1 M NaOH treatment for demineralization and deproteinization, respectively. The brown color of this chitin from cicada sloughs was removed using 6% sodium hypochlorite as an oxidizing agent. It was found that the insect chitin extracted from the cicada sloughs has a higher percent recovery than the chitin from rice-field crab shells. The chemical structure and physicochemical properties of α-chitin from cicada sloughs were characterized using elemental analysis (EA), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR), solid-state ¹³C cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS) NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and thermogravimetry (TG). The degree of acetylation (DA) was determined by EA, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C CP/MAS NMR techniques. The DA values of chitin from cicada sloughs were in the range of 97% to 102% depending on each technique. Furthermore, it was found that the DA increased with an increasing thermal property and crystallinity.     

A kinetic and thermodynamic study of lac dye adsorption on silk yarn coated with microcrystalline chitosan

The coating of silk yarn with microcrystalline chitosan (MCCh) was carried out using the ultrasonic‐assisted method at a pulsed wave frequency of 80 kHz, which only had a slight impact on the yarn as measured by changes in Young's modulus and percentage of elongation compared with untreated silk. A significant enhancement of lac dye uptake onto MCCh‐coated silk yarn compared with the untreated silk was observed. The rate of dye uptake at different temperatures onto silk yarn coated with MCCh was investigated. It was found that the adsorption rate constant and diffusion coefficient both increased with increasing temperature, as a result of a diffusion kinetically controlled process with a diffusion activation energy of 9.40 kJ mol^?1. This suggests that dye adsorption on silk yarn coated with MCCh is a physisorption process. The free energy change (?G^○), enthalpy change (?H^○) and entropy change for dye adsorption were also determined, and the negative values of ?G^○ and ?H^○ obtained indicated that the lac dye adsorption process is both spontaneous and exothermic.     

Chitosan-based intelligent theragnosis nanocomposites enable pH-sensitive drug release with MR-guided imaging for cancer therapy

Smart drug delivery systems that are triggered by environmental conditions have been developed to enhance cancer therapeutic efficacy while limiting unwanted effects. Because cancer exhibits abnormally high local acidities compared to normal tissues (pH 7.4) due to Warburg effects, pH-sensitive systems have been researched for effective cancer therapy. Chitosan-based intelligent theragnosis nanocomposites, N-naphthyl-O-dimethymaleoyl chitosan-based drug-loaded magnetic nanoparticles (NChitosan-DMNPs), were developed in this study. NChitosan-DMNPs are capable of pH-sensitive drug release with MR-guided images because doxorubicin (DOX) and magnetic nanocrystals (MNCs) are encapsulated into the designed N-naphthyl-O-dimethymaleoyl chitosan (N-nap-O-MalCS). This system exhibits rapid DOX release as acidity increases, high stability under high pH conditions, and sufficient capacity for diagnosing and monitoring therapeutic responses. These results demonstrate that NChitosan-DMNPs have potential as theragnosis nanocomposites for effective cancer therapy.     

Effects of additives on the dyeing of cotton yarn with the aqueous extract of Combretum latifolium Blume stems

Flavonoid constituents from the aqueous extract of the stems of Combretum latifolium Blume sourced in Thailand have potential use as dyestuffs for cotton dyeing. In an effort to improve current natural dyeing methods with this extract, further aspects of the process were studied. It was found that, before equilibrium was reached, an increase in temperature led to an increase in dye adsorption rate of the extract; the initial rate and extent of dye adsorption was further increased by the addition of sodium chloride to the dyebath. In addition, cotton yarn pretreated with a chitosan solution (with and without a crosslinking glyoxal solution), followed by dyeing with C. latifolium extract, provided better depth of shade and also gave better fastness to light and washing than the untreated cotton yarn. Post‐mordanting cotton yarn with a biomordant solution from Memecylon scutellatum leaves also gave good light and wash fastness of the resulting dyed cotton, comparable with the dyeing results with the less environmentally friendly alum as a mordant.     

Polydopamine‐coated silk yarn for improving the light fastness of natural dyes

One of the problems occasionally associated with the use of natural dyes in the dyeing of silk is the susceptibility of the dyed yarn to fading in light. While a number of approaches have been used to address this problem, the use of polydopamine (PDA), a known agent with photo‐protective properties, has not been assessed previously. In this study, silk was pretreated with nano‐particulate PDA formed in situ by oxidation of a dopamine solution, then dyed with lac dye or annatto dye as model natural dyes. Photofading rates were significantly reduced in the case of annatto‐dyed, PDA‐coated silk relative to uncoated silk, while wash fastness was unaffected and remained only moderately good. In contrast, no significant change was seen in photofading rates with treated or untreated lac‐dyed silk, and wash fastness was also unaffected. The PDA did not adversely affect resultant colour values if the concentration of the dopamine precursor was kept low. When this was done, acceptable colours were obtained in the dyed silk. Further investigation is warranted of PDA as a photofading protectant and mordant with other natural dyes on silk and other fibres.