Highly Durable Antibacterial Textiles: Cross-Linked Protonated Polyaniline-Polyacrylic Acid with Prolonged Electrical Stability

• Published in: ACS OMEGA
• Main Authors: Aizamddin, Muhammad Faiz; Zainal Ariffin, Zaidah; Nor Amdan, Nur Asyura; Nawawi, Mohd Azizi; Jani, Nur Aimi; Safian, Muhd Fauzi; Shaffee, Siti Nur Amira; Nik Mohamed Daud, Nik Mohd Radi; Myo Thant, Maung Maung; Mahat, Mohd Muzamir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AMER CHEMICAL SOC 2024
• Subjects: Chemistry
• Online Access: https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001231845000001

This study addressed the limited antibacterial durability of textile materials, which has suppressed their applications in preventing infectious disease transmission. A class of highly durable antibacterial textiles was developed by incorporating protonated polyaniline (PANI) textile with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as the functional binder via cross-linking polymerization. The resulting PAA-PANI textile exhibits exceptional electrical conductivity, reaching 8.33 +/- 0.04 x 10-3 S/cm when cross-linked with 30% PAA. Remarkably, this textile maintains its electrical stability at 10-3 S/cm even after 50 washing cycles, demonstrating unparalleled durability. Furthermore, the PANI-PAA textile showcases remarkable antibacterial efficacy, with 95.48% efficiency against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 92.35% efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, even after 50 washing cycles. Comparatively, the PAA-PANI textile outperforms its PANI counterpart by achieving an astounding 80% scavenging activity rate, whereas the latter only displayed a rate of 3.22%. This result suggests a solid integration of PAA-PANI into the textile, leading to sustainable antioxidant release. The successful cross-linking of PAA-PANI in textiles holds significant implications for various industries, offering a foundation for the development of wearable textiles with unprecedented antibacterial durability and electrical stability. This breakthrough opens new avenues for combating infectious diseases and enhancing the performance of wearable technologies.