Fabrication of sustainable functional cotton fabric with silk sericin and chitosan for protective textiles

The use of bio-based sources for producing multifunctional cotton fabric with UV-protective and antibacterial properties is essential. Hence, the primary aim of this work was to develop sustainable functional cotton fabric (antibacterial and UV-protective) by applying silk sericin and chitosan using a simple and environmentally benign pad-dry curing method. The modification as well as functional properties of the treated fabric were evaluated in terms of antimicrobial efficacy, moisture management, UV protection, scavenging activity, surface morphology, thermal stability and mechanical strength. The results indicated that the concentration of chitosan around 10 mg/mL demonstrated remarkable antibacterial efficacy against gram-positive <i>S. aureus</i> bacteria. The quantitative analysis revealed an 87 %, reduction of bacteria, which surpassed the reduction rates in cotton fabric treated with sericin at concentrations of 10 mg/mL and 20 mg/mL. The chitosan/sericin treated fabric showed antioxidant i.e. radical scavenging activity (RSA) of 47.44 % while the fabric treated with chitosan and sericin individually had RSAs of 42.35 % and 53.04 %. Compared to cloth treated with chitosan and sericin separately, the fabric treated with chitosan/sericin showed significantly better resistance to ultraviolet (UV) light (UFP 16.80). Based on the study, it is possible to create sustainable, multipurpose cotton fabrics with potential uses in protective textiles by combining silk sericin with chitosan.