Durable antibacterial and hydrophobic cotton fabrics utilizing enamine bonds

Herein, the acetoacetyl group was directly anchored on the surface of cotton fabric (Cotton-acac) via heterogeneous transesterification. This surface modification strategy was systematically characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis, which confirmed it was a mild and efficient process. Besides, Cotton-acac was used as the versatile intermediate post-modified with gentamicin (Gen) and octadecyl amine (ODA) molecules to impart cotton fabric dual functions with hydrophobic and antibacterial properties. The resulting cotton fabric showed dual and outstanding hydrophobic and antibacterial performance against E. coli and S. aureus, with the bactericidal rates of over 99.99% and the water contact angle of 145 degrees even after 10 cycles of standard washing. Therefore, the heterogeneous modification provided a benign and versatile method for regulating the interfacial properties of the cellulosic materials, with the possibility of post modification for various applications through the acetoacetyl chemistry.