Rapid and persistent bactericidal cotton fabrics finished facilely with reactive N-halamine

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Chemistry
• Antimicrobial Technology

Background:

• Cotton fabrics (CFs) are prone to microbial growth, necessitating antimicrobial treatments for health applications.
• Developing durable and effective bactericidal textiles is crucial for daily health protection and medical use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel bactericidal cotton fabric using a reactive N-halamine compound.
• To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy, durability, and safety of the modified fabric.

Main Methods:

• Covalent grafting of 3-(3-hydroxypropyl diisocyanate)-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (IPDMH) onto cotton fabric.
• Chlorination of the modified fabric to create the bactericidal CF-DMF-Cl.
• Assessment of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, including laundering durability tests.

Main Results:

• The developed CF-DMF-Cl demonstrated high antibacterial rates (99.99%) against E. coli and S. aureus.
• Significant bactericidal activity (90-93.5%) was maintained after 50 laundering cycles.
• The modified fabric retained biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and breathability.

Conclusions:

• The proposed CF-DMF-Cl exhibits rapid, persistent, and durable bactericidal activity.
• The fabric possesses favorable properties for practical applications in medical textiles, sportswear, and home dressings.
• This N-halamine-based approach offers a promising strategy for creating advanced antimicrobial textiles.