Different methods for b-cyclodextrin/triclosan complexation as antibacterial treatment of cellulose substrates

Two different production ways of antibacterial cotton fabrics bymeans of triclosan inclusion into a b-cyclodextrin cavity have been compared. On the one hand, triclosan has been dissolved into an aqueous solution of a b-cyclodextrin derivative with the aim of including the antibacterial agent into the cavity before grafting the b-cyclodextrin on a cotton fabric. On the other hand, the same b-cyclodextrin derivative has been grafted onto cotton and, subsequently, the fabric has been immersed into a triclosanwater-ethanol solution to allowthe inclusioncomplex formation.The antibacterial properties have been evaluated according to AATCC Test Method 100-1993 before and after two washing cycles at 60 °C. It has been shown that the durability of the antibacterial finishing depends on the production method, obtaining amore durable antibacterial action in case of prior triclosan inclusion followed by grafting. This suggests that the immobilization onto the fiber has affected the cyclodextrin cavity accessibility.