Nanoemulsions and nonwoven fabrics carrying AgNPs: antibacterial but may be cytotoxic

Abstract The aim of this study is to prepare nonwoven fabrics carrying silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and to investigate their antibacterial activities and cytotoxicities in parallel. AgNPs were impregnated from their nanoemulsions onto two commercially available nonwoven fabrics: pure-cotton fabrics (PCF) and polyester/viscous fabrics (PVF), by a simple adsorption (dipping) and were then heat stabilized. PCF exhibited stronger antibacterial effects on both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In-vitro cell culture studies demonstrated that AgNPs nanoemulsions and also fabrics carrying them were cytotoxic on L929-fibroblasts in all concentrations used here (6.25-400 ppm) in different extends. Only the fabrics loaded with AgNPs using nanoemulsion with the lowest concentration of 6.25 ppm exhibited low cytotoxicity but were still antibacterial.