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Researchers at the University of Minho in Portugal have modified a cotton fabric to release a lemony aroma of citronella in contact with sweat, thus benefiting people exposed to the hot summer or intense physical activity.
In recent years, scientists have developed intelligent tissues that respond to stimuli such as light, temperature or mechanical stress and respond in certain ways, for example by changing color or transmitting an electrical signal. In addition, researchers have also explored different methods for releasing perfumes from tissues.
To explore this, Carla Silva, Artur Cavaco-Paulo and colleagues from the Department of Biological Engineering at the University located in the Portuguese city of Braga wished to develop and compare two new strategies for releasing a fragrance in the clothing – β-citronellol, a lemongrbad – derived fragrance used in some insect repellents – cotton fabric in response to perspiration.
The first team approach involved an odor binding protein (OBP) found in the nose of pigs that bound to β-citronellol and other odorant molecules. The researchers then badociated with OBP a protein domain called carbohydrate binding module (CBM), which binds to cotton.
In their second strategy, researchers packaged the perfume into MBM-containing liposomes, anchoring the lipid transporters and their cargo in the tissue.
The team then exposed a modified cotton fabric to an acid transpiration solution, in which the low pH of simulated transpiration resulted in the release of β-citronellol by OBP and liposomes.
In comparing the two strategies, the team found that the OBP released a fast odor while the liposomes exhibited a slower controlled release.
In addition, experiments have shown that liposomes may contain more fragrance than the alternative strategy. However, the researchers concluded that both strategies could prove useful for different clothing applications, such as sportswear or summer clothing.
The research was published in the journal Applied materials and interfaces ACS.
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