Naturally occurring betaine grafted on cotton fabric for achieving antibacterial and anti-protein adsorption functions

In the textile industry, the use of naturally occurring antibacterial products in simple one-pot finishing processes is recommended. In this study, we present a clean technology using betaine (Bet) as the finishing reagent for preparation antibacterial fabrics. The reactive carboxyl group of Bet binds to the cellulosic fibers of fabrics via esterification, while the quaternary ammonium moiety of this compound exerts the antibacterial effect. Analyses show that the antibacterial efficiencies of Bet-modified cotton fabrics against E. coli and S. aureus are as high as 99.0 and 99.3%, respectively. Furthermore, these fabrics are highly durable against washing, with antibacterial activities greater than 91.5% after 20 washing cycles, and they display an excellent anti-protein adsorption property. The modification process proposed herein does not compromise the original properties of the fabric, and according to cytotoxicity tests, the modified fabrics are safe to wear against human skin. Overall, the fabric treatment process designed in this study constitutes a novel approach to the development of green finishing technologies in the textile field.