Incorporation of chlorohexidin diacetate into cotton fabrics grafted with glycidyl methacrylate and cyclodextrin

Linear electron beam radiation was used to induce grafting of glycidyl methacrylate/β-cyclodextrin mixture onto cotton fabric. Chlorohexidin diacetate was incorporated to the cavities of cyclodextrin fixed on the cotton fabric to form an inclusion complex having antimicrobial activity. After incorporating chlorohexidin diacetate, the fabric was subjected to several washing cycles to examine the durability of the antimicrobial finishing. Control and grafted cotton fabrics (before and after loading with antimicrobial agent) were characterized for their antimicrobial activity against different kinds of bacteria and fungi.Grafted fabrics loaded with antimicrobial agent were found to show good antimicrobial activity in comparison with control and grafted fabrics which are not loaded with antimicrobial agent. The grafted fabrics loaded with antimicrobial agent were found also to exhibit good antimicrobial activity after five washings and this lasting antimicrobial activity can be attributed to the inclusion complex formed between chlorohexidin diacetate molecules and the cavities of cyclodextrin.