Construction of Cu3P-ZnO coated cotton fabrics with efficient ROS-mediated antibacterial activity

Copper-based agents have been utilized widely in a range of commercial antibacterial products due to their superior release-killing antibacterial properties. However, the environmental concerns associated with the release of Cu2+ ions have restricted their application in textiles. In this study, Cu3P-ZnO nanocomposites with enzyme-like properties were synthesized through the phosphating of CuO-ZnO, which were employed to functionalize the surface of cotton fabric using a dipping–padding–drying method. The physicochemical properties of the functional cotton fabrics were characterized using various techniques. The antibacterial efficacy of Cu3P-ZnO/cotton was assessed against Gram-negative E. coli and Gram-positive S. aureus bacteria. Remarkably, Cu3P-ZnO/cotton demonstrated significant antibacterial activity and stability without necessitating auxiliary conditions; achieving >99% antibacterial effectiveness against both E. coli and S. aureus, while retaining 94.7% efficiency after 50 washing cycles. The underlying antibacterial mechanism was elucidated, revealing that reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially singlet oxygen (1O2), plays a crucial role in mediating the antibacterial action of Cu3P-ZnO/cotton in absence of light, whereas direct contact between Cu3P-ZnO and bacteria serve secondary functions in this process. This research provides valuable insights into the design of ROS-mediated antibacterial agents for applications in antimicrobial textiles.