Chitosan hydrogel-coated cellulosic fabric for medical end-use: Antibacterial properties, basic mechanical and comfort properties

This study explores the influence of functionalization process of cellulosic structure on its mechanical and comfort properties. Chitosan hydrogel has been synthesized and applied on cellulosic fabric to impart pH-sensitivity and antimicrobial behavior. The hydrogel bounded rate onto the surface was enhanced by a previous chemical activation of cotton fabric. Antimicrobial behavior was confirmed by investigation of the antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogene and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The pH stimuli-responsiveness behavior was also confirmed and the pH-dependency swelling of the chitosan hydrogel was successfully transformed into cellulosic sites. The resulting fabric was confirmed suitable for medical, surgical and also transdermal therapy applications. Meanwhile, these modifications have unexpectedly altered basic mechanical and comfort properties. It was established that the proposed antimicrobial treatment caused slight decrease in air permeability and made the support thickener. The obtained results revealed also that tensile behavior and the ultimate comfort properties were greatly influenced by the chemical activation.