Bioinspired, metal-free modification of cotton fabric using polydopamine-coated curcumin for health-protective clothing

Living in the modern world poses threats to human health, ranging from immediate risks like exposure to viruses (such as novel coronavirus), bacteria, ultraviolet radiation, and free radicals, to long-term challenges associated with living in a chemically polluted and unprotected environment. Therefore, it is essential to develop novel protective clothing materials that prioritize human well-being and environmentally friendly production processes. This paper proposes using a safe, multifunctional, bioinspired, and plant-based coating material to enhance natural cotton fabrics. By incorporating polydopamine-coated curcumin structures (PDA@Cur), this study aims to provide protective clothing materials with antiviral, antibacterial, sunlight-protective, and antioxidant characteristics while minimizing environmental harm. The resulting modified cotton samples demonstrate 95.02% antiviral activity against human coronavirus NL63, significant antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, an impressive ultraviolet protection factor of 153.21 for sun protection, and an almost 89% enhancement in antioxidant activity. This study represents a significant advancement in developing multifunctional protective cotton textiles, employing a unique design strategy that incorporates biocompatible and eco-friendly materials, such as PDA and curcumin. Through the integration of antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, and ultraviolet protection properties in a single textile product using plant-based and bioinspired PDA@Cur structures, this innovation overcomes the constraints of conventional clothing materials, ensuring comprehensive protection.