The main goal of this interdisciplinary project is the targeted development of a prototype of a fibrous support for growing tissue cells, based on the textile technique of electrospinning. A major challenge in carrier electrospinning is the need for a structure with pores of sufficiently large diameter (macro scale) to facilitate cell penetration and fibers of small enough diameter (nano scale) to mimic the natural extracellular environment.

The project main goals are establishing of interdisciplinary research group, with young doctoral researcher, and Laboratory for Controlled Monitoring of the Crosslinking Process, enabling systematic research and knowledge transfer to solve the problem of generating textile dust, a disease carrier and instrument stoppage causer, in the hospital environment. The textile fabrics of cotton fibers (CO) and their polyester blends (CO/PES) will be produced. The influence of yarn, weave and fabric construction to the generating of textile dust before and after washing cycles will be researched. The conditions of cationization and antimicrobial finishing with quaternary ammonium compounds, ß-cyclodextrins with encapsulated antimicrobial agents, and chitosan will be developed to achieve permanency to textile care with minimizing chemical and mechanical damage, thereby contributing to a lower release of textile dust. By setting up a Laboratory, the fabric sorption of the bath with antimicrobial agents will be investigated through interfacial properties (DSA30S), and in situ heat-monitoring (FTIR-ATR GG) of physical-chemical change in fabric will be performed, in order to precisely define the bath composition and process parameters to achieve durable crosslinking. The change in CO and CO/PES during and after treatment, and after the textile care cycles, will be analyzed on crystalline, physico-chemical, morphological and interfacial level using FE-SEM, TGA, FTIR, XRD, MCC, GS-MS, EKA, SFE, CA, MMT, WRV, UV-VIS spectrophotometry. For the purpose of health and environment protection, all newly developed fabrics will be tested on toxicity and, according to the obtained results, their usage in the hospital environment with the proposal of detergent formulations and procedures for their care will be suggested. The finding and implementation of new ideas will be directed towards entrepreneurship with the aim of economic growth, and further research within new project application.

The demand for advanced textile materials has dramatically increased during the last few decades, in particular for engineering, medical and technical applications. A new sight proposed by this project is in the merging of so far separate research teams involved in the development of advanced textile materials, through targeted eco-driven surface modifications. Surface pre-treatments and modification will be carried out on selected sustainable textile materials, using environmentally friendly substances and processes, in order to attain antimicrobial, flame retardant, oil/hydrophobic, wellness or medical properties obtaining high added value textiles. Different environmentally friendly methods of microwave, ultrasound or plasma modification processes will be used to enhance targeted functionalities as well as to increase interfacial adhesion between fibres and polymer matrix in fibre reinforced composites. The other approach of the production of highly active surfaces which will have capability to block UV and microwave radiation, enhance oil and water repellence, antimicrobial, self-cleaning, and flame retardant properties is in the application of micro/nano-particles such as TiO2, ZnO, Cu, Ag and Au. These particles can be applied on the surface of fibers, textiles, clothing or inlayers for footwear. Detailed characterization of each treatment effectiveness, so as their effect on humans and the environment will be investigated. Laundering durability and maintenance properties are equally important as the effectiveness of developed advanced material. Introduction of novel eco-driven surface modification processes in textile production will be complemented by the risk analysis and sustainability issues, focusing onto production and product safety, usage and recyclability of newly developed product without significant environmental burden. Innovative textile products will be directed towards the needs of the textile, chemical, pharmaceutical or medical industries.

The use of enzymes in textile industry is one of the most rapidly growing fields. It is an example of white/industrial biotechnology which allows the development of environmentally friendly technologies in fibre processing and strategies to improve the final product quality. Cellulases are the most successful enzymes used in textile wet processing, especially finishing of cellulose-based textiles. Traditional stonewashing of jeans involves amylase-mediated removal of starch coating (desizing) and treatment (abrasion) of jeans with pumice stone. In addition, cellulases have been successfully used for the biostoning of jeans and biopolishing of cotton and other cellulosic fabrics. The advantages in the replacement of pumice stones by a cellulose-based treatment include less damage of fibers, increased productivity of the machines, and less work-intensive and environment benign. The consumption of energy and rawmaterials, as well as increased awareness of environmental concerns related to the use and disposal of chemicals into landfills, water or release into the air during chemical processing of textiles are the principal reasons for the application of enzymes in finishing of textile materials. Therefore this project will be focused on investigation oft he Influence of the bioavailability of metal ions in biomass on lignocellulolytic enzymes for implementation in textile processing.

The project "Development of Qualification Standards and Undergraduate Study Programs at the Faculty of Textile Technology" will develop occupational and qualification standards and new undergraduate programs with the proper application of the Croatian Qualification Framework and ECTS, proper calculations of student workload, the development of a system of professional practice and innovative teaching methods, and the improvement of teaching, didactic and interactive materials, which will lead to e-learning being raised to a new level. Accordingly, a teacher training program will be implemented in the application of the concept of learning outcomes and innovative teaching methods.