Anti-candidiasis functional material for women’s cotton undergarments

Abstract

The escalating incidence of Candida spp. infections among individuals with compromised immune systems is attributed to various factors, including broad-spectrum antibiotic usage, common health issues, and inadequate undergarments, requiring novel preventive measures. While the pathogenic mechanisms of Candida spp. infections remain incompletely understood, their virulence attributes and opportunistic nature challenge host defenses. In response, this research study introduces an innovative nanobiotechnological approach employing L-cysteine to develop nontoxic anti- Candida spp. textile materials. Cotton, an ideal material for women’s underwear, was functionalized with L-cysteine through an exhaustion procedure following activation with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy free radical. The results demonstrated increased energy dispersive X-ray peaks corresponding to sulfur atoms in the functionalized cotton fabric, confirming that L-cysteine remained attached to the cotton surface even after washing cycles. Moreover, the cotton containing L-cysteine displayed morphology and mechanical properties similar to the nonfunctionalized cotton, indicating that the incorporation of L-cysteine did not impact the cotton properties. In addition, cotton functionalized with L-cysteine exhibited a significant reduction in yeast growth – 87.04 ± 1.90% for Candida albicans and 65.28 ± 3.03% for Candida parapsilosis – highlighting its potential as a class I medical device, particularly for preventing candidiasis in women’s medical underwear.