Construction of durable antibacterial coatings on PET fabrics via PEI grafting and Cu(II) coordination

Textiles are susceptible to microbial colonization due to prolonged accumulation of organic residues, such as sweat and skin secretions. These residues serve as nutrients for pathogenic growth, elevating the risk of infection in everyday environments. To mitigate, we developed a composite coating with persistent antibacterial properties by grafting polyethyleneimine (PEI) onto PET fabric surfaces followed by Cu(II) coordination. The functionalized fabrics (PET-PEI-Cu) exhibited exceptional antibacterial efficacy, achieving a bacteriostatic rate exceeding 99.99% against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus , significantly outperforming commercial PET fabrics. Furthermore, PET-PEI-Cu demonstrated excellent laundering durability, retaining its antibacterial efficacy even after 50 repeated washing cycles. With its sustained antimicrobial activity, this fabric holds promise for reducing bacterial contamination in hospital bedding. This could help mitigate cross-infection risks, reduce the disinfection burden on healthcare staff, and lower operational costs. This work provided a scalable strategy for preparing high-performance, long-lasting antibacterial textiles with broad application prospects in healthcare and public health. Graphical abstract