Antimicrobial effect of silver nanoparticles produced by fungal process on cotton fabrics

Nanobiotechnology was used for the preparation of the silver nanoparticles colloid by making use of biomass filtrate of fungus Fusarium solani. Finishing formulation containing as low as 54 ppm nanosilver particles were prepared and applied to cotton fabrics with and without binder. The finished fabrics were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The efficiency and durability of the nanosilver particles-based antibacterial finish were determined. The finish appears as deposits on the surface of the fibrils/fiber of the treated cotton. Efficiency of the antibacterial finish on the cotton fabric, expressed as bacterial reduction %, amounts to 97% and 91% for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. These values are reduced to 53% and 48.7% upon exposing to laundering for 20 cycles. This problem was overcome by incorporation of a binder in the finishing formulation: Under this condition antibacterial cotton fabrics having bacterial reduction of 94% and 85% after 20 washing cycles could be prepared. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.