Alkyne functionalized cellulose fibers: A versatile "clickable" platform for antibacterial materials

We report a facile and effective method to fabricate clickable alkyne-functionalized cellulose fibers (ACFs) through in situ chemical oxidation copolymerization of 3-ethynylaniline and aniline under acidic aqueous solution. The effects of process variables on copolymer deposition onto CFs were investigated and suitable preparation conditions were identified. It was found that aniline significantly facilitated the polymerization of 3-ethynylaniline and shortened the preparation time of ACFs from 48 to 6 h. Antibacterial-modified cellulose fibers were prepared by binding β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to cellulose fibers via click chemistry, followed by the inclusion of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CipHCl). The loading and releasing behaviors of CipHCl into/from click product (ACFs@Azide-β-CD) were also revealed. The load amount of CipHCl into ACFs@Azide-β-CD increased remarkably, and the release of CipHCl from ACFs@Azide-β-CD was prolonged. The ACFs@Azide-β-CD loaded with CipHCl exhibited higher and longer-term antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureu) compared with CFs and ACFs.