Multifunctional coatings created using an antimicrobial polymer as a platform for titania precipitation on cotton

Titania precipitation on cotton has been achieved using a commercially available antimicrobial polymer, Reputex 20. The cotton swatches precipitated with titania retain antimicrobial activity, and we have also shown the ability to encapsulate diisopropylfluorophosphatase (DFPase), an enzyme capable of breaking down organofluorophosphates. Cotton swatches are easily prepared and precipitation occurs at room temperature in aqueous solutions at neutral pH. Both the antimicrobial properties of Reputex 20 and the hydrolytic activity of the DFPase enzyme are retained after titania precipitation, generating a cotton material exhibiting multifunctional properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43199.