Reaction parameters of in situ silver chloride precipitation on cellulose fibres

In the present work, non-woven, non-regenerated cellulose wound dressing was subjected to in situ silver (Ag) deposition in the form of silver chloride (AgCl) under various reaction conditions. The studied reaction parameters were as follows: time, temperature, and reactants´ concentration. AgCl was bound on the cellulose via two-step process. Firstly, the silver ions (Ag⁺) were attracted to cellulose in the solution of silver nitrate (AgNO₃). Secondly, Ag⁺ were precipitated directly on the cellulose by immersing the samples into the solution of sodium chloride (NaCl). The prepared samples were examined on the amount of bound and released Ag, and the release was studied both in water and in simulated body fluids. The reaction parameters significantly affected the amount of bound and released Ag, the difference of released Ag was as high as 75%. The key parameter in the process was reactants´ concentration. Non-regenerated cellulose modified with AgCl was antibacterially active.