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Characterisation of the surface of wool and hair using microscopical and fluorescence probe techniques
Author(s) -
Jurdana Lucia E.,
Leaver Ian H.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.4990270214
Subject(s) - cuticle (hair) , nile red , fluorescence microscope , fluorescence , wool , biophysics , microscopy , stain , materials science , arthropod cuticle , chemistry , staining , anatomy , optics , composite material , biology , botany , physics , genetics , insect
Fluorescence probing methods, in combination with light microscopy, were used to image and characterise the hydrophobic surfaces of wool and human hair fibres. When applied from an aqueous dispersion, uncharged lipophilic fluorescent probes displayed a selective affinity for the boundaries of the cuticle cells on the fibre surface. Adsorption generally occurred on the surface of the lower scale emerging from each cell junction. An indication of the fibre surface polarity was given by the fluorescence fine structure of adsorbed pyrene molecules. Treatment of hair with the lipid stain Nile Red produced an unusual diamondshaped pattern (each segment approximately 40 μm in length and 10 μm in width) in areas where the cuticle had been damaged. Cuticle cells isolated from hair fibres showed distinct geometrical features on their surfaces when examined using differential interference contrast microscopy. The results are interpreted to indicate the presence of a residue of lipid‐staining material adhering to the cuticle cells of hair, the residue possibly being derived from adhesive material produced at the areas of contact between presumptive cuticle cells during the early stages of cuticle shape differentiation.