Enhanced fragrance release on cotton fabric using β-Cyclodextrin supported by molecular docking

Abstract

Fragrance finishing in textiles has gained importance due to its sensory and therapeutic benefits. However, the volatility of essential oils and poor wash fastness limit the longevity of treated fabrics. β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) (Fig. 2) can form host guest inclusion complexes with essential oils (Fig. 1), enabling controlled release and enhanced retention [2]. Despite this, weak fixation to cotton fabrics reduces long term performance. Crosslinking agents and binders have been used to improve adhesion, but systematic studies combining these with molecular docking studies remain scarce [4]. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of citric acid as a crosslinker and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binder in retaining sandalwood oil β-CD inclusion complexes on cotton fabric, supported by molecular docking analysis to predict binding stability.