@article{nawalakhe_shi_vitchuli_bourham_zhang_mccord_2015, title={Plasma-Assisted Preparation of High-Performance Chitosan Nanofibers/Gauze Composite Bandages}, volume={64}, ISSN={["1563-535X"]}, url={https://publons.com/publon/26924670/}, DOI={10.1080/00914037.2014.1002098}, abstractNote={In this work, novel composite bandages were prepared by electrospinning chitosan nanofibers on 100% cotton substrate fabric. In the composite bandages, chitosan nanofiber web serves as a primary wound dressing whereas cotton substrate as a backing material. Cotton substrate was given plasma pretreatment and composite bandages were given plasma posttreatment to improve the durability of composite bandages and adhesion between nanofiber and cotton substrate layers. The adhesion of the nanofibers to the substrates was assessed by qualitative and quantitative techniques. Plasma pretreatment of the substrate with 100% helium and 99% helium/1% oxygen plasmas showed up to four times increase in force required to peel off the nanofiber layer. Even more increase in adhesion was obtained when composite bandages were given plasma pretreatment to substrate as well as posttreatment to composite bandages. Storage modulus, glass transition temperature, and crystallinity of untreated He and He/O2-plasma treated chitosan nanofiber web were studied to observe the effect of plasma treatment on the chitosan nanofibers using dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and wide angle X-ray diffraction, respectively. To understand the mechanism of improved adhesion, surface elemental analysis of plasma treated chitosan nanofibers and cotton substrate was carried out using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT}, number={14}, journal={INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS AND POLYMERIC BIOMATERIALS}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Nawalakhe, Rupesh and Shi, Quan and Vitchuli, Narendiran and Bourham, Mohamed A. and Zhang, Xiangwu and McCord, Marian G.}, year={2015}, pages={709–717} }
 @article{nawalakhe_shi_vitchuli_noar_caldwell_breidt_bourham_zhang_mccord_2013, title={Novel atmospheric plasma enhanced chitosan nanofiber/gauze composite wound dressings}, volume={129}, ISSN={0021-8995}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.38804}, DOI={10.1002/app.38804}, abstractNote={AbstractElectrospun chitosan nanofibers were deposited onto atmospheric plasma treated cotton gauze to create a novel composite bandage with higher adhesion, better handling properties, enhanced bioactivity, and moisture management. Plasma treatment of the gauze substrate was performed to improve the durability of the nanofiber/gauze interface. The chitosan nanofibers were electrospun at 3–7% concentration in trifluoroacetic acid. The composite bandages were analyzed using peel, gelbo flex, antimicrobial assay, moisture vapor transmission rate, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), absorbency, and air permeability tests. The peel test showed that plasma treatment of the substrate increased the adhesion between nanofiber layers and gauze substrate by up to four times. Atmospheric plasma pretreatment of the gauze fabric prior to electrospinning significantly reduced degradation of the nanofiber layer due to repetitive flexing. The chitosan nanofiber layer contributes significantly to the antimicrobial properties of the bandage. Air permeability and moisture vapor transport were reduced due to the presence of a nanofiber layer upon the substrate. XPS of the plasma treated cotton substrate showed formation of active sites on the surface, decrease in carbon content, and increase in oxygen content as compared to the untreated gauze. Deposition of chitosan nanofibers also increased the absorbency of gauze substrate. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013}, number={2}, journal={Journal of Applied Polymer Science}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Nawalakhe, Rupesh and Shi, Quan and Vitchuli, Narendiran and Noar, Jesse and Caldwell, Jane M. and Breidt, Frederick and Bourham, Mohamed A. and Zhang, Xiangwu and McCord, Marian G.}, year={2013}, month={Feb}, pages={916–923} }
 @article{vitchuli_shi_nowak_nawalakhe_sieber_bourham_zhang_mccord_2013, title={Atmospheric plasma application to improve adhesion of electrospun nanofibers onto protective fabric}, volume={27}, ISSN={["0169-4243"]}, url={https://publons.com/publon/7178346/}, DOI={10.1080/01694243.2012.727164}, abstractNote={Nylon 6 electrospun nanofibers were deposited on plasma-pretreated woven fabric substrates with the objective of improving adhesion between them. The prepared samples were evaluated for adhesion strength and durability of nanofiber mats by carrying out peel strength, flex resistance, and abrasion resistance tests. The test results showed significant improvement in the adhesion of nanofiber mats on woven fabric substrates due to atmospheric plasma pretreatment. The samples also exhibited good flex and abrasion resistance characteristics. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and water contact angle analyses indicate that plasma pretreatment introduces radicals, increases the oxygen content on the substrate surface, and leads to formation of active chemical sites that may be responsible for enhanced cross-linking between the substrate fabric and the electrospun nanofibers, which in turn increases the adhesion properties. The work demonstrates that the plasma treatment of the substrate fabric prior to deposition of electrospun nanofiber mats is a promising method to prepare durable functional materials.}, number={8}, journal={JOURNAL OF ADHESION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY}, author={Vitchuli, Narendiran and Shi, Quan and Nowak, Joshua and Nawalakhe, Rupesh and Sieber, Michael and Bourham, Mohamed and Zhang, Xiangwu and McCord, Marian}, year={2013}, month={Apr}, pages={924–938} }
 @article{nawalakhe_hudson_seyam_waly_abou-zeid_ibrahim_2012, title={Development of electrospun iminochitosan for improved wound healing application}, volume={7}, number={2}, journal={Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics}, author={Nawalakhe, R. G. and Hudson, S. M. and Seyam, A. F. M. and Waly, A. I. and Abou-Zeid, N. Y. and Ibrahim, H. M.}, year={2012}, pages={47–55} }