*Article* **Electrospun Sericin/PNIPAM-Based Nano-Modified Cotton Fabric with Multi-Function Responsiveness**

**Jia Li 1,2,3, Bo-Xiang Wang 2,3, De-Hong Cheng 2,3, Zhi-Mei Liu 3, Li-Hua Lv 1, Jing Guo 1,4,\* and Yan-Hua Lu 2,3,\***


**Abstract:** There is a significant interest in developing environmentally responsive or stimuli-responsive smart materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate multi-function responsive cotton fabrics with surface modification on the nanoscale. Three technologies including electrospinning technology, interpenetrating polymer network technology, and cross-linking technology were applied to prepare the multi-function sericin/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/Poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers, which were then grafted onto the surfaces of cotton textiles to endow the cotton textiles with outstanding stimuliresponsive functionalities. The multi-function responsive properties were evaluated via SEM, DSC, the pH-responsive swelling behavior test and contact angle measurements. The results demonstrate that with this method, multi-function responsive, including thermo- and pH-responsiveness, cotton fabrics were fast formed, and the stimuli-responsiveness of the materials was well controlled. In addition, the antimicrobial testing reveals efficient activity of cotton fabrics with the sericin/PNIPAM/PEO nanofiber treatments against Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria such as *Staphylococcus aureus* and *Escherichia coli*. The research shows that the presented strategy demonstrated the grea<sup>t</sup> potential of multi-function responsive cotton fabrics fabricated using our method.

**Keywords:** sericin; poly(N-isopropylacrylamide); cotton fabrics; electrospinning
