Room temperature photolytic C-H insertion of azidoformate for virucidal polypropylene non-woven fabric with enhanced durability

Abstract

Polypropylene non-woven fabrics (PNWs) are widely utilized in sectors such as healthcare and filtration due to their favorable properties, including low density, chemical resistance, and cost-effectiveness. However, their use in personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted limitations such as the risk of viral adherence and secondary transmission, as well as concerns regarding single-use waste management. This study presents a method for developing durable antiviral PNWs by covalently grafting Polyquaternium-11 (PQ), a biocompatible cationic polymer, onto PNW surfaces using tri(ethylene glycol)di(azidoformate) as a crosslinker through photolytic C-H insertion at ambient temperature. The process was confirmed via FT-IR, while thermal, crystallinity, and tensile characterization indicated stable integration of PQ without compromising the mechanical properties of the PNW. The modified PNW exhibited significant antiviral and antibacterial performance, achieving 98.97% virus inactivation and 99.20% inhibition of S. aureus. This study demonstrates an effective approach for creating antimicrobial PNWs with potential applications in medical, hygiene, and PPE products.