Novel Chitosan-Gelatin microcapsules containing rosemary essential oil for the preparation of bioactive and protective linen

Biomolecules present in natural materials have always remained a prime choice for the development of safe, protective, and wellness-related textile products. In this study, functional microcapsules were prepared using the chitosan-gelatin complex as a shell material and rosemary essential oil as a core material. The prepared microcapsules were utilized for the development of multifunctional linen fabric. The oil release mechanism of microcapsules was studied using the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. The obtained microcapsules and finished linen fabrics were characterized using SEM-EDX analysis and ATR-FTIR analysis. The durability of functionalities against repeated launderings was also studied. The microcapsules with an encapsulation efficiency of more than 70% were used to impart durable mosquito-repellency (more than 90%) against Anopheles mosquitoes, antibacterial properties against E. coli (> 93%) and S. aureus (> 95%) bacteria, significant (> 91%) antioxidant activity and a pleasant aroma. The chemical constituents of rosemary oil were also found to be responsible for imparting multifunctional properties. The novel combination of biopolymers and essential oil was explored for the development of multifunctional textiles.