Green fabrication of chitosan microcapsules via double emulsion-simple coacervation and their application in fabrics

The growing interest in green synthesis and multifunctional application of microcapsules is due to their eco-friendly nature, health benefits, safety advantages, controlled release capabilities, and enhanced protection and stability. In this study, chitosan microcapsules were synthesized using a green double emulsion-simple coacervation method. The shell and core materials are derived from plants and are environmentally friendly, while the preparation process does not require volatile organic solvents. Both water-soluble vitamin C (VC) and oil-soluble lemon essential oil (LEO) were loaded as active substances in the chitosan microcapsules. The prepared microcapsules are about 3 μm in size and exhibit good thermal stability. Further modified microcapsules with UV crosslinked monomers could be coated on the fabric to form a functional fabric coating as well as UV crossing linkers. The obtained functional fabric based on chitosan microcapsules has the slow-release property of VC and LEO. The sustained-release VC exhibits a skincare effect and is beneficial to human health. Furthermore, this coated fabric has durable antibacterial properties due to the synergistic effect of LEO and chitosan. This method offers a sustainable solution for creating innovative microcapsules with diverse applications such as medical textiles, home textiles, cosmetics, and more. Graphical abstract