Modified bamboo rayon-copper nanoparticle composites as antibacterial textiles

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Textile-associated infections are a significant concern in healthcare settings.
• Developing antimicrobial fabrics is crucial for preventing cross-contamination.
• Bamboo rayon offers a sustainable and versatile substrate for functionalization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To immobilize copper nanoparticles onto acrylamide-grafted bamboo rayon fabric.
• To characterize the synthesized copper nanoparticle-grafted fabric.
• To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy and durability of the modified fabric for medical textile applications.

Main Methods:

• Grafting bamboo rayon fabric with acrylamide.
• Immobilization of copper nanoparticles via chemical reduction of copper sulfate.
• Characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
• Spectrophotometric measurement of color change and antibacterial testing against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Main Results:

• Successful immobilization of copper nanoparticles onto the bamboo rayon fabric was confirmed.
• The modified fabric exhibited significant antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
• The antibacterial properties remained durable up to 50 washing cycles.

Conclusions:

• Acrylamide-grafted bamboo rayon functionalized with copper nanoparticles is a promising material for antibacterial medical textiles.
• The durable antimicrobial properties suggest potential for reducing healthcare-associated infections.
• This approach offers a viable method for creating functional textiles with enhanced safety features.