According to Seshadri Ramkumar, Associate Professor of Non-Wovens at Texas Tech University the textiles sector can benefit from research and development activities in developing next generation functional textiles as more and more scientists are mimicking nature to develop functional properties such as waterproofing, changes in surface adhesion and biocidal characteristics.
In an article for Commodity online Professor Ramkumar reports that the development of broad spectrum and cost effective biocides is a major challenge for the textile and related industries. He goes on to discuss the work of a team of Australian and Spanish researchers led by Elena Ivanova of the Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, that have developed nano black silicon biocidal surfaces that has shown to have effective biocidal capabilities against Gram-negative and Gram- positive bacteria and endospores.
- See more at: http://www.innovationintextiles.com/research-development-education/dragonflys-wings-inspire-development-of-biocides-in-textiles/#sthash.WYpQdEwS.dpuf