{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,20]],"date-time":"2026-01-20T02:41:49Z","timestamp":1768876909180,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,3]],"date-time":"2021-08-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1627948800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100010661","name":"Horizon 2020 Framework Programme","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["720851"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["720851"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100010661","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nanomaterials"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles (NPs) are used for the coating of materials, such as textiles, with biomedical applications, including wound care and tissue engineering, but they are also promising antibacterial agents. In this work, PPy NPs were used for the spray-coating of textiles with antimicrobial properties. The functional properties of the materials were verified, and their safety was evaluated. Two main exposure scenarios for humans were identified: inhalation of PPy NPs during spray (manufacturing) and direct skin contact with NPs-coated fabrics (use). Thus, the toxicity properties of PPy NPs and PPy-coated textiles were assessed by using in vitro models representative of the lung and the skin. The results from the materials\u2019 characterization showed the stability of both the PPy NP suspension and the textile coating, even after washing cycles and extraction in artificial sweat. Data from an in vitro model of the air\u2013blood barrier showed the low toxicity of these NPs, with no alteration of cell viability and functionality observed. The skin toxicity of PPy NPs and the coated textiles was assessed on a reconstructed human epidermis model following OECD 431 and 439 guidelines. PPy NPs proved to be non-corrosive at the tested conditions, as well as non-irritant after extraction in artificial sweat at two different pH conditions. The obtained data suggest that PPy NPs are safe NMs in applications for textile coating.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nano11081991","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,4]],"date-time":"2021-08-04T02:16:07Z","timestamp":1628043367000},"page":"1991","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["Safety Assessment of Polypyrrole Nanoparticles and Spray-Coated Textiles"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Rossella","family":"Bengalli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"POLARIS Research Center, Department of Earth end Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy"}]},{"given":"Luisa","family":"Fiandra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4670-5586","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Claudia","family":"Vineis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Research Council-Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing (CNR STIIMA), Corso Giuseppe Pella 16, 13900 Biella, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8569-5600","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Diego Omar","family":"Sanchez-Ramirez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Research Council-Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing (CNR STIIMA), Corso Giuseppe Pella 16, 13900 Biella, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7820-4690","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nuno G.","family":"Azoia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CeNTI-Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, Rua Fernando Mesquita, 2785, 4760-034 Vila Nova de Famalic\u00e3o, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5497-4842","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alessio","family":"Varesano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Research Council-Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing (CNR STIIMA), Corso Giuseppe Pella 16, 13900 Biella, Italy"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6962-049X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paride","family":"Mantecca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"POLARIS Research Center, Department of Earth end Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Saleem, H., and Zaidi, S.J. (2020). Sustainable Use of Nanomaterials in Textiles and Their Environmental Impact. Materials, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma13225134"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bios.2019.04.001","article-title":"Application of Conducting Polymers to Wound Care and Skin Tissue Engineering: A Review","volume":"135","author":"Talikowska","year":"2019","journal-title":"Biosens. Bioelectron."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"244","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ultsonch.2015.09.021","article-title":"Simultaneous Sonochemical-Enzymatic Coating of Medical Textiles with Antibacterial ZnO Nanoparticles","volume":"29","author":"Petkova","year":"2016","journal-title":"Ultrason. Sonochem."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6544","DOI":"10.1039\/D0RA10009A","article-title":"A Comprehensive Review on Antimicrobial Face Masks: An Emerging Weapon in Fighting Pandemics","volume":"11","author":"Pullangott","year":"2021","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1153","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2019.01153","article-title":"Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Infections Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Organisms","volume":"10","author":"Lee","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4069","DOI":"10.1002\/smll.201301081","article-title":"Eradication of Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria by a Novel Zn-Doped CuO Nanocomposite","volume":"9","author":"Malka","year":"2013","journal-title":"Small"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"641","DOI":"10.3109\/17435390.2015.1132346","article-title":"Release of Nanomaterials from Solid Nanocomposites and Consumer Exposure Assessment\u2014A Forward-Looking Review","volume":"10","author":"Mackevica","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nanotoxicology"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"695","DOI":"10.1007\/s12274-014-0553-5","article-title":"The Influence of the Crystalline Nature of Nano-Metal Oxides on Their Antibacterial and Toxicity Properties","volume":"8","author":"Perelshtein","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nano Res."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"36","DOI":"10.1007\/s12221-013-0036-4","article-title":"Antibacterial Efficacy of Polypyrrole in Textile Applications","volume":"14","author":"Varesano","year":"2013","journal-title":"Fibers Polym."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"253","article-title":"Polypyrrole Coated PET Fabrics for Thermal Applications","volume":"1","author":"Sparavigna","year":"2010","journal-title":"Mater. Sci. Appl."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msec.2016.01.067","article-title":"Antibacterial Behavior of Polypyrrole: The Influence of Morphology and Additives Incorporation","volume":"62","author":"Queiroz","year":"2016","journal-title":"Mater. Sci. Eng. C Mater. Biol. Appl."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhazmat.2013.01.038","article-title":"Evaluation of Cytotoxicity of Polypyrrole Nanoparticles Synthesized by Oxidative Polymerization","volume":"250\u2013251","author":"Vaitkuviene","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Hazard. Mater."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1007\/s11706-014-0238-8","article-title":"Conducting Polypyrrole in Tissue Engineering Applications","volume":"8","author":"Huang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Front. Mater. Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fahlgren, A., Bratengeier, C., Gelmi, A., Semeins, C.M., Klein-Nulend, J., Jager, E.W.H., and Bakker, A.D. (2015). Biocompatibility of Polypyrrole with Human Primary Osteoblasts and the Effect of Dopants. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0134023"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2341","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actbio.2014.02.015","article-title":"Conductive Polymers: Towards a Smart Biomaterial for Tissue Engineering","volume":"10","author":"Balint","year":"2014","journal-title":"Acta Biomater."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1007\/s40820-020-00507-0","article-title":"Mussel-Inspired Redox-Active and Hydrophilic Conductive Polymer Nanoparticles for Adhesive Hydrogel Bioelectronics","volume":"12","author":"Gan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nano-Micro Lett."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e358","DOI":"10.1038\/am.2017.16","article-title":"Electroresponsive and Cell-Affinitive Polydopamine\/Polypyrrole Composite Microcapsules with a Dual-Function of on-Demand Drug Delivery and Cell Stimulation for Electrical Therapy","volume":"9","author":"Xie","year":"2017","journal-title":"NPG Asia Mater."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102002","DOI":"10.1088\/1757-899X\/254\/10\/102002","article-title":"Health and Safety Concerns of Textiles with Nanomaterials","volume":"254","author":"Almeida","year":"2017","journal-title":"IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msec.2019.04.016","article-title":"Antibacterial Properties of Polypyrrole-Treated Fabrics by Ultrasound Deposition","volume":"102","author":"Varesano","year":"2019","journal-title":"Mater. Sci. Eng. C Mater. Biol. Appl."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100282","DOI":"10.1016\/j.impact.2020.100282","article-title":"In Vitro Skin Toxicity of CuO and ZnO Nanoparticles: Application in the Safety Assessment of Antimicrobial Coated Textiles","volume":"21","author":"Bengalli","year":"2021","journal-title":"NanoImpact"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zerboni, A., Bengalli, R., Baeri, G., Fiandra, L., Catelani, T., and Mantecca, P. (2019). Mixture Effects of Diesel Exhaust and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Human Lung A549 Cells. Nanomaterials, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/nano9091302"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"801214","DOI":"10.1155\/2013\/801214","article-title":"Effect of Nanoparticles and Environmental Particles on a Cocultures Model of the Air-Blood Barrier","volume":"2013","author":"Bengalli","year":"2013","journal-title":"BioMed Res. Int."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"e1366","article-title":"An in Vitro Skin Irritation Test (SIT) Using the EpiDerm Reconstructed Human Epidermal (RHE) Model","volume":"29","author":"Hayden","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Vis. Exp."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1016\/j.toxlet.2017.07.877","article-title":"Impact of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on an in Vitro Model of the Human Air-Blood Barrier","volume":"279","author":"Bengalli","year":"2017","journal-title":"Toxicol. Lett."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"(2021, June 17). OECD ILibrary|Test No. 431: In Vitro Skin Corrosion: Reconstructed Human Epidermis (RHE) Test Method. Available online: https:\/\/www.oecd-ilibrary.org\/environment\/test-no-431-in-vitro-skin-corrosion-reconstructed-human-epidermis-rhe-test-method_9789264264618-en."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"(2021, June 17). Test No. 439: In Vitro Skin Irritation: Reconstructed Human Epidermis Test Method. Available online: https:\/\/www.oecd-ilibrary.org\/environment\/test-no-439-in-vitro-skin-irritation_9789264090958-en."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"491","article-title":"Contamination and Release of Nanomaterials Associated with the Use of Personal Protective Clothing","volume":"59","author":"Tsai","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ann. Occup. Hyg."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23407","DOI":"10.1039\/C7RA01636K","article-title":"Effective Surface Attachment of Ag Nanoparticles on Fibers Using Glycidyltrimethylammonium Chloride and Improvement of Antimicrobial Properties","volume":"7","author":"Kang","year":"2017","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Varesano, A., Belluati, A., Ramirez, D.O.S., Carletto, R.A., Vineis, C., Tonetti, C., Songia, M.B., and Mazzuchetti, G. (2016). A Systematic Study on the Effects of Doping Agents on Polypyrrole Coating of Fabrics. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 133.","DOI":"10.1002\/app.42831"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1186\/1743-8977-7-8","article-title":"Determination of Silver Nanoparticle Release from Antibacterial Fabrics into Artificial Sweat","volume":"7","author":"Kulthong","year":"2010","journal-title":"Part. Fibre Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9979","DOI":"10.1021\/es304329w","article-title":"Migration of Ag- and TiO2-(Nano)Particles from Textiles into Artificial Sweat under Physical Stress: Experiments and Exposure Modeling","volume":"47","author":"Lorenz","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"352","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemosphere.2014.03.116","article-title":"Silver Speciation and Release in Commercial Antimicrobial Textiles as Influenced by Washing","volume":"111","author":"Lombi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Chemosphere"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2342","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biomaterials.2010.11.080","article-title":"Cytotoxicity of, and Innate Immune Response to, Size-Controlled Polypyrrole Nanoparticles in Mammalian Cells","volume":"32","author":"Kim","year":"2011","journal-title":"Biomaterials"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7682","DOI":"10.1039\/C5NR00542F","article-title":"An Effective Approach to Reduce Inflammation and Stenosis in Carotid Artery: Polypyrrole Nanoparticle-Based Photothermal Therapy","volume":"7","author":"Peng","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nanoscale"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.1016\/S0887-2333(03)00019-5","article-title":"Analysis of Interleukin-1\u03b1 (IL-1\u03b1) and Interleukin-8 (IL-8) Expression and Release in in Vitro Reconstructed Human Epidermis for the Prediction of in Vivo Skin Irritation and\/or Sensitization","volume":"17","author":"Coquette","year":"2003","journal-title":"Toxicol. Vitr."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"570","DOI":"10.1186\/s11671-017-2337-9","article-title":"Synthesis and In Vitro Performance of Polypyrrole-Coated Iron\u2013Platinum Nanoparticles for Photothermal Therapy and Photoacoustic Imaging","volume":"12","author":"Phan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nanoscale Res. Lett."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1007\/s42247-021-00188-4","article-title":"Potential Applications of Conducting Polymers to Reduce Secondary Bacterial Infections among COVID-19 Patients: A Review","volume":"4","author":"Mahat","year":"2021","journal-title":"Emergent Mater."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"495","DOI":"10.1007\/s11696-016-0068-5","article-title":"Conducting Polymers as Sorbents of Influenza Viruses","volume":"71","author":"Ivanova","year":"2017","journal-title":"Chem. Pap."}],"container-title":["Nanomaterials"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-4991\/11\/8\/1991\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T06:39:34Z","timestamp":1760164774000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-4991\/11\/8\/1991"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,3]]},"references-count":38,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,8]]}},"alternative-id":["nano11081991"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nano11081991","relation":{},"ISSN":["2079-4991"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2079-4991","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,8,3]]}}}