Thermosensitive Behavior and Antibacterial Activity of Cotton Fabric Modified with a Chitosan-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogel

Abstract

To increase the themosensitive behavior and antibacterial activity of cotton fabric, a series of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)/chitosan (PNIPAAm/Cs) hydrogels was synthesized by interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) technology using a redox initiator. The IPN PNIPAAm/Cs hydrogel was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results indicated that the IPN PNIPAAm/Cs hydrogel has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at 33 °C. The IPN hydrogel was then used to modify cotton fabric using glutaric dialdehyde (GA) as a crosslinking agent following a double-dip-double-nip process. The results demonstrated that the modified cotton fabric showed obvious thermosensitive behavior and antibacterial activity. The contact angle of the modified cotton fabric has a sharp rise around 33 °C, and the modified cotton fabric showed an obvious thermosensitive behavior. The bacterial reduction of modified cotton fabric against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were more than 99%. This study presents a valuable route towards smart textiles and their applications in functional clothing.

Cotton‐hydrogel composite for improved wound healing: Antimicrobial activity and anti‐inflammatory evaluation—Part 2

“…Based on their results, the developed composite was able to sustain the release of berberine, and it kept their biological properties (antimicrobial effect, promotion of granulation and capillary formation, wound closure, moisture regulation, and hemostasis) . Similar results were described using a cotton fabric modified with a chitosan‐poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel . The chitosan antimicrobial activity was present on the cotton modified fabric, as well as the thermosensitive behavior of the hydrogel network …”

“…Even though natural antimicrobial agents have been described as a viable alternative to antibiotics on the chronic wound treatment, just a few paper are available reporting the use of antimicrobial agents to functionalize cotton‐hydrogel composites. Nevertheless, they support the above results regarding the maintenance of the natural agents' antimicrobial activity after their encapsulation by textile‐hydrogel composites . For instance, Xu and coworkers were able to incorporate a berberine nanosuspension in a poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide)/alginate copolymer hydrogel‐grafted fabrics.…”

“…48 Similar results were described using a cotton fabric modified with a chitosan-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel. 49 The chitosan antimicrobial activity was present on the cotton modified fabric, as well as the thermosensitive behavior of the hydrogel network. 49…”

“…antimicrobial activity after their encapsulation by textile-hydrogel composites. 48,49 For instance, Xu and coworkers were able to incorporate a berberine nanosuspension in a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/alginate copolymer hydrogel-grafted fabrics. Based on their results, the developed composite was able to sustain the release of berberine, and it kept their biological properties (antimicrobial effect, promotion of granulation and capillary formation, wound closure, moisture regulation, and hemostasis).…”

Effect of the Degree of Quaternization and Molar Mass on the Cloud Point of Poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] Aqueous Solutions: A Systematic Investigation

“…Such smart materials are able to reversibly respond or adapt to changes in the environment such as pH value, electric field, light, temperature, among others . In this context, water soluble thermoresponsive polymers exhibit a unique and interesting phenomena denominated lower critical solution temperature (LCST) that has been intensively studied in recent decades . Below their respective LCST, these polymers are fully soluble in water and their chains might exist in a random coil conformation because the formation of hydrogen‐bonds with surrounding water molecules .…”