Development of a Smart Textile with Medicinal Properties Using Microencapsulated Camphor, Turpentine and Coconut Oils

Abstract

A mixture of oils containing 13%(v/v) of camphor oil, 43.5% (v/v) of turpentine oil and 43.5% (v/v) of coconut oil (CTC oil) was selected for this research due to the valuable medicinal properties of its ingredients such as high antioxidant capacity. Microencapsulated CTC oil was then used to develop a smart cotton fabric with several smart activities. CTC oil microcapsules were synthesized by the complex coacervation method using gelatin and sodium alginate as wall materials. UV visible spectrometry confirmed the encapsulation of CTC oil in microcapsules. Morphology of the CTC microcapsules appeared to be irregular in shape under optical and scanning electron microscopic images and was sized between 20–400 nm. The loading of the microcapsules was found to be 238 μL/g and the loading efficiency was 19%. The antioxidant activity of CTC oil microcapsules was 18±(0) μg PGE /mg in the Folin Ciocalteu assay. The CTC oil microcapsules displayed lower cytotoxic activity compared to the unencapsulated oil. The CTC microcapsules showed considerable repellency toward Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The stability investigations of microcapsules indicated their stability under varying light conditions, selected surfactants and within the pH range of 5-10. The CTC microcapsules were incorporated onto cotton fabrics using the pad dry cure method and a dip coating method using succinic acid as the binder. The SEM images of cotton fabrics developed under both conditions confirmed the attachment of microcapsules on to cotton fibers. The CTC microcapsule incorporated cotton fabrics displayed significant antioxidant activity and mosquito repellent activity. The cotton fabric developed by the dip coating method using succinic acid binder displayed significant antioxidant activity whereas the fabric prepared by pad dry cure method resulted the best mosquito repellent cotton fabric. The antioxidant activity and the repellent activity of cotton fabrics still retained up to a considerable extent even after subjecting to a mild washing cycle.