Recoverable antibacterial property loss of green synthesized AgNPs loaded cotton fabrics with time

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are an effective antibacterial agent. But, we found an exceptional behavious of green synthesized AgNPs-loaded fabrics related to recoverable antibacterial property loss with time. To the best of our knowledge, previously, no one reported this type of phenomenon. For this study, the AgNps were synthesized by C.arvensis plants and incorporated into fabrics by padding, immersion, and in-situ methods. Then, UV–vis, XRD, SEM, and EDS were used to characterize silver nanoparticles. The initial antibacterial tests showed almost 100 % bacterial reduction, but the samples lost their antibacterial property after about four months. However, washing with detergent returned back their full antibacterial property. The antibacterial property loss and recovery depend on the size of AgNPs, AgNO3 volume, incorporation methods, fabric types, etc. We hypothesized that the conversion of chemisorbed Ag+ ions to zero-valent AgNPs is primarily responsible for this behavior, since the zero-valent AgNPs have no antibacterial property. The surfactant groups of detergent removed the adhered particles and in this way AgNPs-loaded fabrics recovered antibacterial properties after washing with detergent.

Keywords

• Green synthesis
• Antibacterial textiles
• Recoverable antibacterial property loss
• Zero-valent silver nanoparticles