Micro/Nano Capsulation: Textile Functional Features and Application

Abstract

The given text selection provides information on eco-friendly textile processing techniques, particularly focusing on microencapsulation. Microencapsulation involves creating tiny "packaging" structures known as microparticles or microcapsules that contain bioactive compounds or polymers. It is used to provide textiles with properties like thermoregulation, antimicrobial activity, fragrance, and mosquito repellency. Encapsulation has several purposes, including decreasing reactivity, preventing substance evaporation or loss, facilitating handling and storage, enabling regulated release, and masking taste, smell, and activity of enclosed components. The size of microcapsules can range from millimeters to nanometers. Various release mechanisms for microcapsules are external pressure, internal pressure, abrasion of walls, burning, radiation, temperature changes, chemical reactions, and enzymatic degradation. Microencapsulation of essential oils has shown potential in wound healing applications. Moreover, antimicrobial textiles are created by encapsulating non-toxic antimicrobial compounds to control the growth of bacteria on textiles. Mosquito-repellent textiles can also be developed using micro/nanocapsules containing repellent substances like essential oils.