Fabric that releases a lemony aroma could help end the scourge of sweaty gym clothes

Biological engineers from University of Minho, Portugal, devised new garment
Modified cotton fabric to emit a lemon citronella aroma upon contact with sweat
The findings are published in the science journal Applied Materials & Interfaces

Published: 12:21 BST, 1 August 2019 | Updated: 12:22 BST, 1 August 2019

Sweaty clothing which gives off a nasty niff could soon be a thing of the past thanks to a new breakthrough by experts.

In a revolutionary move, researchers have invented fabric which releases its own citrus fragrance to combat unsavoury smells.

Hot summer weather, stressful situations and intense workouts in the gym are all known to produce unpleasant sweaty odours.

But now clothing could cover up these embarrassing smells with a burst of fragrance.

The sweet smell of success? Biological engineers from the University of Minho, Portugal, devised the new garment which is impregnated with odorant-binding protein and liposomes

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Researchers packaged the citronella fragrance in liposomes (molecules enclosing a water droplet) that attached to the fabric.

The low pH of perspiration triggers both the odorant-binding protein and liposomes, which in turn releases the citronella.

For the first time researchers have modified cotton fabric to emit a lemon citronella aroma upon contact with sweat.

In recent years, scientists have developed smart fabrics that react to stimuli such as light, temperature or mechanical stress and respond in certain ways, such as by changing colour or conducting an electrical signal.

Researchers have also explored different methods to release fragrances from fabrics.

Biological engineers from the University of Minho in Portugal have made cotton fabric which produces citronellol, a lemongrass-derived scent used in some insect repellents, in response to sweat.

The first approach involved an odorant-binding protein found in pigs’ noses that binds to citronellol and other scent molecules.

To the odorant binding protein, the researchers attached a carbohydrate-binding module that binds to cotton.

Unpleasant: Hot summer weather, stressful situations and intense workouts in the gym are all known to produce unpleasant sweaty odours

In a second experiment the researchers packaged the fragrance in liposomes that attached to the fabric.

The team exposed the modified cotton fabrics to an acidic sweat solution and the low pH of the simulated perspiration caused the odorant-binding protein and liposomes to release citronellol.

They discovered that the protein gave off a quick burst of scent, while the liposomes produced a slower, controlled release.

Such strategies could prove useful for different clothing applications, the researchers say.

The findings are detailed in the science journal Applied Materials & Interfaces, published by the American Chemical Society.

WHAT IS HYPERHIDROSIS?

Hyperhidrosis is a common condition in which a person sweats excessively.

The sweating may affect the whole of your body, or it may only affect certain areas.

The sweating doesn’t usually pose a serious threat to your health, but it can be embarrassing and distressing. It can also have a negative impact on your quality of life and may lead to feelings of depression and anxiety.

There are no guidelines to determine what “normal” sweating is, but if you feel you sweat too much and your sweating has started to interfere with your everyday daily life, you may have hyperhidrosis.

What are the signs?

you avoid physical contact, such as shaking hands, because you feel self-conscious about your sweating

you don’t take part in activities, such as dancing or exercise, for fear they will make your sweating worse

excessive sweating is interfering with your job – for example, you have difficulty holding tools or using a computer keyboard

you’re having problems with normal daily activities, such as driving

you’re spending a significant amount of time coping with sweating – for example, frequently showering and changing your clothes

you become socially withdrawn and self-conscious

Who is affected?

Hyperhidrosis is common. It’s been estimated to affect between 1 and 3 in every 100 people which means there are likely to be hundreds of thousands of people living with it in the UK.

According to Saint Louis University, hyperhidrosis affects a much larger proportion of the US population – an estimated 7.8million individuals, or 2.8 per cent of the population.

Hyperhidrosis can develop at any age, although primary hyperhidrosis typically starts during childhood or soon after puberty.

In many cases, hyperhidrosis has no obvious cause and is thought to be the result of a problem with the part of the nervous system that controls sweating. This is known as primary hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis that does have an identifiable cause is known as secondary hyperhidrosis. This can have many different triggers, including pregnancy or the menopause, anxiety, certain medications, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or infections.

What is the treatment?

Doctors usually recommend starting with the least invasive treatment first, such as powerful antiperspirants and lifestyle changes.

Other treatments are iontophoresis (the affected area is treated with a weak electric current passed through water or a wet pad), botulinum toxin injections, and even surgery in a few cases.

Source: NHS

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