Open Access

ARTICLE

Surface-Functionalized ZnO Nanorods via PEG-Assisted Stabilization for Durable Antibacterial Lyocell Fibers

Biao Liu¹, Xin Wei¹, Zexin Lin¹, Peiyu Cui¹, Junlong Yao¹, Xiaobo Ye², Bin Fang², Yani Guo^1,*, Yimin Sun^1,*
1 Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, China
2 Dangyang Hongyang New Material Technology Co., Ltd., Dangyang, China
* Corresponding Author: Yani Guo. Email: ; Yimin Sun. Email:
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Sustainable Development and Multifunctional Application of Cellulose Composites)

Journal of Polymer Materials https://doi.org/10.32604/jpm.2026.077831

Received 17 December 2025; Accepted 22 February 2026; Published online 01 April 2026

Abstract

This study reports a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-assisted surface functionalization strategy to achieve colloidal stabilization of rod-shaped ZnO nanorods and their uniform integration into Lyocell fibers via dry-jet wet spinning. ZnO nanorods are prone to aggregation due to high surface energy, limiting their antibacterial efficacy. We demonstrate that PEG molecules adsorb onto ZnO surfaces through hydrogen bonding and coordination, providing steric stabilization that prevents agglomeration and ensures homogeneous dispersion in the spinning dope. The optimized composite fiber with 3 wt% ZnO exhibits balanced performance, delivering inhibition rates above 95% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, while retaining over 80% efficacy after 50 laundering cycles. Morphological and structural analyses confirm that PEG-mediated interfacial interactions facilitate stable nanoparticle encapsulation without disrupting the cellulose crystalline structure. Antibacterial mechanism studies further reveal that light-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is the dominant antibacterial pathway, while Zn²⁺ release provides a secondary contribution. In addition, the antibacterial performance remains stable under different humidity conditions (30%–80% RH), indicating good environmental robustness. This work demonstrates a scalable and eco-friendly route to fabricate durable antibacterial fibers and highlights the broader significance of colloidal stabilization and interfacial engineering in functional polymer composites.

---

Keywords

Surface functionalization; ZnO nanorods; lyocell fibers; antibacterial durability; ROS generation

---