Nanofibrous Photothermal\nMaterials from Natural Resources:\nA Green Approach for Artwork Restoration

Cleaning unwanted paint layers represents a significant\nchallenge\nin cultural heritage restoration, requiring high effectiveness, spatial\nprecision, and nontoxic techniques. Cleaning vandalic acts or street\nart paints is particularly challenging because of insoluble varnishes,\nwhich are very resistant to traditional removal treatments. Here,\nfor the first time, we employ the photothermal effect for cleaning\nan artwork, using electrospun nonwovens incorporated with melanin\nnanoparticles (NPs). This material shows outstanding photothermal\nproperties and photostability. The nonwoven incorporated with melanin\nNPs, in combination with a solvent, efficiently removes alkyd resin\npaint layers in a short time of application, with high spatial control.\nMoreover, an eco-compatible system is obtained by producing a nonwoven\nmade up of a natural polymer electrospun in water, cuttlefish ink\nas a melanin source, and a green solvent. In summary, using the new\npullulan–melanin nonwoven represents a novel and unusual application\nof the photothermal effect, and its fastness, effectiveness, and safety\nmake it suitable for use in the artwork restoration field.