Formation, antimicrobial activity, and controlled release from cotton fibers with deposited functional polymers

Abstract

Chitosan and alginate are biopolymers with interesting bioactivity that can be transferred to cotton fibers for medical and health care applications. These polymers in solution can be attached onto cotton fibers by a layer‐by‐layer technique. Confirmation of polymer deposition onto fibers was verified by morphology analysis, coomassie blue dye coloration, and contact angle of water on fibers. Also, weight gain and level of whiteness after each layer deposition were determined. Antimicrobial activity on treated cotton samples against E. coli and S. aureus was evaluated after each layer deposition and high inhibition rate of bacteria growth was observed in samples with chitosan outer layer (∼ 100%). Polyelectrolyte layers on cotton fibers not only provide interesting bioactivity by themselves, but can also serve as a matrix for small bioactive molecules. In this regard, a model molecule was added during sample preparation to study its release behaviors in a buffer solution by monitoring with UV–vis spectroscopy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43054.

Laccase‐mediated grafting of polyphenols onto cationized cotton fibers to impart UV protection and antioxidant activities

“…Therefore, the process of functionalization of cotton fibers consisted of two stages: cationization followed by grafting of polyphenols, as schematically represented in Figure . The deposition of polyelectrolytes with different charges have been broadly studied to modify the surface of fibers to improve properties such as hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, dye adsorption, antimicrobial activity and tensile strength, among others . Electrostatic interactions between the fiber's surface and polyelectrolyte chains result in the adsorption processes.…”

“…Both control samples of bleached and cationized cotton, Figure (A,B), respectively, showed similar and regular surfaces. However, treatment with caffeic acid and morin in the presence of laccase introduced surface irregularities of that might be due to attachment of the phenolic compounds [Figure (C–F)] …”

“…Water absorption behavior of cotton samples was obtained by gravimetric absorption testing system (GATS) (Figure ). Water absorption and surface wettability of fibers can be changed depending on polymer attachment on their surfaces . Cotton fibers are well known to be hydrophilic materials due to the presence of hydroxyl groups.…”

“…The potential applications of both flavonoids and phenolic acids are been broadly studied in the biological, medical, and pharmaceutical areas, and have also found interest for the modification of raw materials such as cotton and flax fibers to provide them new functionalities, that is, coloration and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities . There are studies about modification and/or functionalization of fibers with polyphenols using oxidoreductases such as laccases and peroxidases.…”

Chitosan hydrogel‐coated cotton fabric: Antibacterial, pH‐responsiveness, and physical properties

“…Cellulose fibers have found a broad application in the medical textile field owing to its unique characteristics, such as high moisture, adsorption, low impurity content, and good mechanical properties . Their molecular structure and their large active surface area allows to cellulose fibers to be an ideal matrix for the design of bioactive, biocompatible, and intelligent materials…”