Competency: Materials Improving Textiles with Cyclodextrins Project Team:

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic starch molecules produced during the enzymatic degradation of the linear starch polymer amylase, and contain 6 (α−CD, shown below), 7 (β-CD), and 8 (γ−CD) glucose units bonded into bracelet structures. CDs tend to act as hosts in the formation of non-covalently bonded inclusion compounds (ICs) with many small molecule and polymer guests, because of their relatively hydrophobic cavities (~0.5-1.0 nm in diameter), which can include or thread over small molecule and polymer guests, respectively. Our objective is to exploit this tendency to improve/enhance the properties of textile products by processing them with CDs in the following 3 ways: (1) improved delivery of textile additives using meltprocessable additive-CD-ICs or additives that are permanently complexed (rotaxanated) with CDs, (2) covalent bonding of CDs to linear polymer chains, followed by formation of a CD-ICs with other polymers or small molecules to confer new functionalities and properties to textiles and (3) creation of electro-spun webs of nano-fibers containing CD-modified polymers, CDs or additive-CD-ICs. Here we summarize the progress made in each area of CD processing.