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Convert waste coarse and short hairs of meat goats to high-value, fine, long, and elastic protein fibers via manipulation of keratin alignment and crosslinkages. [Display omitted] • Fine fibers with high performance developed from waste coarse wool for the first time. • Model developed to quantify effect of crosslinkage lengths on properties of fibers. • Reasons for limited hair extension from previous endeavors unveiled. • Resultant fibers similar to commercial wool in terms of fineness and elasticity. • A technology to add substantial values to meat processing wastes. We have converted waste coarse and short hairs of meat goats to high-value, fine, long, and elastic protein fibers via manipulation of keratin alignment and crosslinkages. The shortage of non-petroleum-based fibers has become one of the most prominent concerns. However, few technologies could convert such coarse hairs to fine and flexible fibers for textile uses due to limitations in extensions of fibers, less than 100% of their initial length, and poor flexibility retention of extended fibers, less than 20% of breaking elongation. Limited stretchability and flexibility retention of hair fibers mainly resulted from the difficulty in recovery of crosslinkages in stretched fibers. Here, we used a series of dithiols via multiple cycles of reduction, drawing, and oxidation to produce fine and flexible fibers from coarse and short wool for the first time. Dithiols with long backbones ensured sufficient crosslinkages in proteins after high ratios of drawings. Besides, long crosslinkages brought by dithiols secured sufficient movement between protein molecules and prevented of rupturing chains of protein molecules. As a result, short and coarse hairs of meat goats were turned into long and fine fibers, 350% of their original lengths and 54% of their original diameters, with excellent performance properties, with retentions of 170% of tenacity, and 50% of breaking elongation compared to original hairs. Also, a set of models developed to quantify the effects of extensions of fibers and structures of crosslinkers on the mechanical properties of fibers guides scientists and engineers on property improvement of materials via controlled crosslinkings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the development of electrospun zein fibers with improved water stability and tensile strength for potential drug delivery. The low morphological stability in aqueous environment and poor mechanical properties in dry and wet states have restricted the applications of electrospun protein materials, though these materials possess a unique structure, special adsorption properties, biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, the electrospun zein fibers were modified by non-toxic citric acid crosslinking catalyzed by NaOH. An up to 183% enhancement in dry tensile strength and an up to 448% improvement in wet tensile strength were generated. The cross-linked fibers were able to maintain their fibrous structure for 15 days in phosphate-buffered saline at 37°C. Moreover, those cross-linked electrospun zein fibers showed a potential in controlled drug delivery with a 58% drug-loading efficiency and a sustained profile drug release in artificial gastric juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Silk fibers produced by undomesticated wild insects belonging to the Saturniidae family have unique properties compared to the commonly used silks. Insects belonging to the Saturniidae family are one of the largest moths found throughout the world, produce large cocoons and are easier to rear than B. mori. In this research, we have characterized the morphology and tensile properties of silks produced by eight wild insects that belong to the Saturniidae family. Fibers produced by Saturniidae insects such as C. hercuels have properties similar to that of B. mori silk whereas fibers produced by Copaxa multifenestrata have inferior properties than B. mori or the common wild silks. In addition, the tensile properties of the fibers vary considerably between insects. Fibers with fineness ranging from 1.5 to 7.8denier and breaking tenacity ranging from 0.9 to 5g per denier are produced by the Saturniidae insects. Identifying the unique properties of Saturniidae silks such as tensile properties, yield of silk from the cocoons and ability to grow under different environments will help to evaluate the potential of rearing the wild insects for commercial production of silk for textile, medical and other applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper explores some possibilities of using UV absorbers to improve lightfastness of inkjet prints. Up to 1-class increase in AATCC lightfastness was obtained by adding a UV absorber onto a printed fabric. This means that a designer, an artist or a textile/apparel producer can double the fading resistance of inkjet printed textiles to light by a simple treatment. Both water soluble and insoluble UV absorbers with benzophenone structures were examined. The effects of UV absorbers, their concentrations and application conditions on lightfastness improvement of reactive inkjet prints are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tough keratin fibers from chicken feathers have been produced continuously via controlled assembly of secondary protein structures. Though research on utilization of keratinous wastes began decades ago, very few regenerated products with high quality were developed due to damage to the primary structures during extraction and poor recovery of the secondary structures in the regenerated materials. Fibers have the highest quality requirements among the regenerated keratin products, including high toughness and resistance to repeated laundering. Our group developed regenerated keratin fibers on a lab scale previously. However, the regenerated keratin had poor spinnability with low recovery of secondary protein structures. As a result, keratin fibers could not be produced continuously, and their properties, especially the wet strength, were not acceptable. In this paper, high drawing ratios of keratin fibers on a continuous line have been achieved via stepwise oxidation and drawing technology. This technology resulted in controlled assembly of disulfide crosslinkages, optimum recovery of the secondary structures, satisfactory mechanical properties and scalable production of keratin fibers. Furthermore, the use of inexpensive chemicals makes the continuous keratin fiber production developed in this work affordable for scale-up. The technology developed for continuous production of tough keratin fibers has high potential for the development of high quality regenerated products from other cysteine-containing protein materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Green, sustainable and continuously spun keratin fibers finer and tougher than wool. • The toughness through enhanced molecular entanglement and conformation organization. • Enhanced protein unfolding and conformation controlled by amine-tuned chitin. • Excellent processibility of composite fibers throughout the entire garment-making process. We utilize chitin nanoparticles with controlled deacetylation and develop novel wet-spun keratin/chitin fibers on a pilot scale with strong interactions between keratin fibers and chitin nanoparticles. There is an urgent need to develop sustainable and degradable materials as alternatives to the current nondegradable textile fibers. Regenerating feather wastes into high-quality protein fibers promotes the sustainable development of the fiber industry. However, inferior properties of keratin fibers, resulting from insufficient protein unfolding, molecular entanglements, and recovery of secondary protein structures, hindered their large-scale commercialization. Inspired by chitin-protein interaction in crab shells, we reported the development of wet stable keratin composite fibers with similar fineness to silk and better toughness than wool. On the continuous spinning line, small amount of chitin nanoparticles with controlled amine content enhanced keratin molecular entanglement, improved fiber drawability, induced the formation of ß-sheet conformation, and incorporated external crosslinkages. As a result, keratin composite fibers with chitin nanoparticles had fineness, tenacity, breaking elongation, and toughness, and wet properties from 2.1 to 0.9 denier, 1.1 to 2.2 g/den, 11 % to 19 %, 21 to 50 J/cm3, and 0.6 to 1.2 g/den, respectively. We further fabricated the continuously spun keratin composite fibers into filament yarns and a sweater. Keratin composite fibers exhibited excellent processibility throughout the entire garment-making process. The green conversion from feather wastes to tough and wet stable composite fibers had a high potential for practical and sustainable applications in the textile industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rothischildia lebeau which belongs to the Saturniidae family of silk-producing insects secretes protein fibers with properties between that of the Bombyx mori and the common wild silks. Traditionally, wild silks produced by insects such as Antheraea mylitta are considerably coarser and have inferior tensile properties than the domesticated and most commonly used silk produced by B. mori. Recently, it has been demonstrated that some of the wild silks have unique properties and preferable for medical applications. Wild silks are comparatively easier to rear, produce larger cocoons, and could have unique properties. In this research, the structure and properties of the silk fibers produced by R. lebeau were studied and the potential of using the fibers for medical applications was investigated. Fibers produced by R. lebeau had average tensile strength of 3.3 g/den, similar to that of wild silks but lower than that of the B. mori silk. R. lebeau fibers were biocompatible and showed potential to be useful for tissue engineering and other medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Keratin filaments were developed from poultry feather wastes. • Dual-functional dithiols endow filaments with higher ductility than feathers. • Filament regeneration potentially creates more than 100-billion-dollar revenue. • Poultry wastes can be substantially reduced. Technology for the transformation of waste feathers to quality regenerated filaments has been developed. Regardless of superior properties of natural keratin materials, previously developed regenerated materials from keratin had tensile properties much lower than their natural counterparts due to backbone hydrolysis and inefficient reconstruction of disulfide crosslinkages. In this work, tough keratin filaments have been regenerated from white duck feathers via efficient restoration of disulfide crosslinkages using a dithiol reducing agent. Dithiol substantially reserves free thiol groups in the extraction and formed lengthy intermolecular crosslinkages in regenerated keratin filaments. Due to the high degree of intermolecular reconstruction of disulfide bonds and formation of lengthy crosslinkages via dithiol chain-extension, the keratin filaments exhibited considerable improvements in mechanical properties, especially for ductility and water stability. The tenacity and elongation at break were 160.7 MPa and 14%, respectively. The filaments retained about 80% of the tenacity of natural feathers at either dry or wet conditions and demonstrated stretchability 150% higher than natural feathers. The fiber regeneration technology makes it possible to substitute primary fiber sources by renewable poultry feathers. Successful filament substitution or addition can bring more than 88-billion-dollar revenue. The technology not only contributes to a sustainable fiber and poultry industry but adds substantial values to poultry feathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton stalk bark fibers (CSBF) with low lignin content were prepared from combined treatments with bacteria and alkali, processed into blended yarns and knitted fabrics, and dyed with reactive dyes. CSBF previously extracted using alkali and peroxide at atmospheric pressure were coarse (>45 dtex) or contained high lignin content (>11.8%), which limited their industrial applications in textiles. We found that alkali removed lignin more thoroughly at 130 °C, especially with the assistance of bacteria pretreatment. Fibers after bacteria and alkali treatments had fineness reduced to 24.0 dtex and lignin content decreased to 3%. CSBF/cotton blended yarns from our CSBF had better evenness and breaking strength than jute/cotton blends. Fabrics from CSBF/cotton blended yarns had higher bursting strength, softer and smoother handle compared to the fabrics of jute/cotton blends. Dye sorption of Reactive Red 120 on CSBF was 15.7% higher than that on cotton. Dyed fabric of CSBF/cotton blends had the same laundering and light colorfastness, but slightly lower staining and wet crocking colorfastness than 100% cotton fabric. Overall, CSBF in our study could be used as a good alternative to traditional bast fibers for highly valuable textile applications. The research results will not only enhance the sustainability of fiber industry but also alleviate the environmental pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, keratin was extracted from the disposable chicken feather using l -cysteine as reducing agent. Then, it was re-dissolved in the sodium carbonate-sodium bicarbonate buffer, and the pure keratin membrane and fiber were fabricated by doctor-blade casting process and wet spinning method, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the chemical and physical properties of resulting powder, membrane and fiber. Compared with the raw chicken feather, the regenerated keratin materials retain its chemical structure and thermal stability, their relative crystallinity is a little different depend on the shaping method, which leads to the difference in moisture regain. The mechanical results show that tensile strength of the keratin membrane researches 3.5 MPa, have potential application in biomedical fields. However, the keratin fiber presents low tenacity, i.e. 0.5cN/dtex, this problem should be solved in order to apply the new fiber in textile and material science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]