Antibacterial Coatings on Cotton Fabrics Based on Rosmarinic Acid-Loaded Bio-Based Resin and Oxygen-Plasma Surface Pretreatment

The development of antibacterial cotton textilesis of considerable interest for applications in healthcare, hygiene, and protective materials, where limiting microbial proliferation on fibrous surfaces is essential. However, many of the finishing strategies currently reported for cotton rely on metal based agents or multifunctional synthetic systems, which may raise concerns about environmental impact, uncontrolled release, and long-termdurability. In this context, the use of naturally derived bioactive compounds, combinedwith surface activationmethods, represents a promising route toward more sustainable antimicrobial coatings. In this study, cotton fabrics were functionalized with a commercial biobased acrylic resin that contained increasing amounts of rosmarinic acid, a plant derived polyphenol with recognized antimicrobial activity.