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New Antimicrobial, Anti-Odor Coating for Clothing and Textiles:
For the first time, researchers have found a cost-effective and convenient way to apply a silver-based antimicrobial clear coating to new or existing textiles. Their method uses polyphenols[*], commonly found in food items notorious for staining clothes such as wine and chocolate. A range of textile types can be treated by the researchers' method, and items can be washed multiple times without losing the antimicrobial and therefore anti-odor property.
[...] There are many kinds of products that can be worn or applied to the body which aim to reduce body odor, but these often come with a compromise such as expense, breathability, limited choice, or something else. Some of these make use of silver, which is well known for its antimicrobial properties, but can be difficult to apply to things like clothes in an easy and efficient way.
A team led by researchers from the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering has pioneered a way to apply an antimicrobial silver coating to textiles that is cost effective, simple and has some useful implications too. They essentially used a compound known as a polyphenol [*], tannic acid (TA) specifically, to bind silver (Ag) to fabrics. Polyphenols are found in chocolate and red wine amongst other things, and are responsible for their infamous ability to stain clothing and tablecloths. Fortunately, the researchers' coating, called Ag/TA, is completely clear so it doesn't discolor textiles, but best of all, it can survive being washed.
"As kids often do, my son stained his shirt with chocolate one day, and I couldn't scrub it out," said postdoctoral fellow Joseph Richardson. "Associate Professor Hirotaka Ejima and I have studied polyphenols for over a decade, but this chocolate incident got me thinking about using tannic acid to bind silver to fabrics. We think we've found two methods to apply our antimicrobial silver coating to textiles, suitable for different use cases."
The first method might be useful for commercial clothing or fabric producers. Textiles can simply be bathed in a mixture of the silver compound and the polyphenol binder. Another method, perhaps more suited to small-scale settings, including the home, is to spray items of clothing, first with the silver compound and then with the polyphenol binder. An obvious advantage is that people can add the coating to existing items of clothing.
[*] Polyphenol on Wikipedia.
Journal Reference:
Richardson, Joseph J., Liao, Wenting, Li, Jincai, et al. Rapid assembly of colorless antimicrobial and anti-odor coatings from polyphenols and silver [open], Scientific Reports (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05553-9)
(Score: 2) by Barenflimski on Friday February 11 2022, @12:37AM (6 children)
I had no idea that human body odor was a problem, I thought it just was, and that everyone smelled different.
I didn't know that one cared about removing stains from a 4 year olds shirt. I've yet to see a 4 year olds shirt that is 1. worth removing a stain from and 2. that is worn for more than about 3 months.
I suppose if this smells better than scotch-guard, then they're onto a niche product?
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday February 11 2022, @01:46AM (2 children)
Kind of like how supposedly you really shouldn't take a shower every day, since our bodies evolved to expect certain stuff staying on our skin. But First World Problems; I don't particularly enjoy the scent of a "zesty" person.
https://www.bustle.com/articles/114177-6-reasons-you-should-stop-showering-every-day-according-to-science [bustle.com]
But then again, personally I dislike the smell of cologne, too. I don't know if it was certain brands or what, but one big office I worked at, it seemed like the only times I noticed it they smelled like they had been dipped in fresh dog shit. And how much do you have to be using for somebody just walking past you in the hall for 2 seconds to notice?
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @02:32AM (1 child)
Cologne turns most women on. They are the main purchaser of cologne--they buy it for their men.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @03:02PM
It says ALPHA DOUCHEBAG and women start foaming at the gash at the prospect.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @01:51AM (1 child)
For many people it plays a part in sexual attraction as well.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @04:29AM
Oh, noes! Is this another Runaway subsmission? Pigs are us!
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday February 11 2022, @04:32PM
IMO, in general it is not a problem.
However there are some people who do not bathe nor change their clothes. They think this is healthy somehow. And Natural. And people just Naturally stay as far away from them as possible.
We live in the crazy world.
If your boy is chewing on electrical cords, then ground him until he conducts himself properly.
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by Snotnose on Friday February 11 2022, @12:43AM
I can either take a shower as needed, or buy some expensive doohicky that disguises my funk for cinnamon and peppercorns. Maybe even unicorn farts, they aren't clear.
Me? I can smell my own funk, I'll stick with the showers as needed. As in like, I dunno. A date. A job interview. A media interview. Oh wait, that last one doesn't work. The "reporter" will ignore my funk on cam as long as I fit into the story being told. Hopefully I'm sporting dreadlocks.
Cynical? Me? I'm 63 years old, cynical turned into how the world works decades ago.
Parents in Africa: "Finish your food kids, there are starving children in America"
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @12:48AM (5 children)
This silver is going to end up in the wastewater stream and accumulate in the environment, possibly in what you eat. It is unnecessary. Use soap, use deodorant, wash your clothes. DONE.
(Score: 2) by acid andy on Friday February 11 2022, @01:56AM (2 children)
You're right but then I'm not sure how good laundry detergent and deodorant are for the water either. And what about the aluminum salts in antiperspirants?
"rancid randy has a dialogue with herself[...] Somebody help him!" -- Anonymous Coward.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @02:29AM
Silver is not a required nutrient for any living thing, and it is normally only found in very very trace quantities if at all in the environment. Aluminum is a very commonly dispersed mineral in nature (clays especially). Detergents have the possibility of being biodegradable, and soap certainly is biodegradable. Silver does NOT biodegrade. It just accumulates. If it kills bacteria, what might it due to other living things? It is completely unnecessary.
(Score: 4, Informative) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday February 11 2022, @04:41AM
A good solution to that is Dr. Bronner's soap and other simple, biodegradable products.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @12:42PM
Who the fuck modded this a troll? It's a simple fact. Jesus, this site is dysfunctional.
(Score: 2) by LabRat on Friday February 11 2022, @02:13PM
It depends on how you wash it. Follow the directions on your clothes/additive, and you'll be fine. I'm not searching for it right now, but if memory serves, silver in systems like this is freed by bleach and acids but not by caustics like soap.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @01:13AM (1 child)
Wear wool, it takes multiple wearings before it starts to stink. It's all the synthetic fiber stuff that gets stinky the minute it gets slightly sweaty.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @02:24AM
Or wear cotton. It doesn't get instantly smelly either, unlike plastic fibers.
Try an experiment with cotton vs polyester socks or underwear, and you will quickly smell the difference. I'll have to take your word on wool.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @03:05PM
Microbe develops capacity to digest New Antimicrobial Anti-Odor Coating in 3...2...1....
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @04:17PM (2 children)
Maybe Biden could distribute these as an alternative to crack pipes.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday February 11 2022, @04:33PM (1 child)
Crack addicts would not consider it to be a valid substitute.
If your boy is chewing on electrical cords, then ground him until he conducts himself properly.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 11 2022, @04:36PM
You misunderstand. The people in need are the ones who have to smell these filthy things.