Highly Durable Antibacterial Properties of Cellulosic Fabric via β-Cyclodextrin/Essential Oils Inclusion Complex

Essential oils (EOs), which naturally come from plants, have significant antibacterial properties against a variety of pathogens, but their high volatility and poor water solubility severely restrict their use in the textile industry. In this study, an inclusion complex based on beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD)/EOS was prepared by two different simple methods: pad dry cure (method 1) and pad batch (method 2). A glyoxal crosslinking agent was used for the fixation of the inclusion complexes on the surface of the fabric. Lavender, rosemary, salvia, and lemon essential oils were applied. The structure of the beta-CD/EOs inclusion complex was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and weight gain (%), which indicated that the beta-CD/EOs were successfully deposited on cellulose-based fabric. The results demonstrated that beta-CD enhanced the oils' scent stability, with the advantage of exhibiting no major change in the tensile strength or permeability of cotton. Lavender oil had the highest stability scent with a value of 3.25, even after 30 days of evaluation. The antibacterial activity showed that EOS/ beta CD-impregnated fabrics for method 1 had an inhibition zone ranging from 33 to 23 mm, while the inhibition zone for method 2 ranged from 39 mm to 29 mm, indicating that our treatment was able to control the growth of bacteria, even after five washing cycles. This study confirmed that the EOs/ beta CD inclusion-complex-deposited cotton fabric might hold further promise for medical and hospital use.

Automated summary

An inclusion complex based on beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD)/essential oils (EOs) was prepared and deposited on cellulose-based fabric. The inclusion complex enhanced the scent stability of the oils without affecting the tensile strength or permeability of cotton. The treated fabric showed antibacterial activity and could control the growth of bacteria even after multiple wash cycles. This study confirmed the potential of the inclusion-complex-deposited cotton fabric for medical and hospital use.