BiOClBr-coated fabrics with enhanced antimicrobial properties under ambient light

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Development of antimicrobial fabrics is crucial for healthcare and public safety.
• Existing antimicrobial treatments often face challenges with durability and leaching.
• Need for efficient antimicrobial agents activated by ambient conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate ambient light-enabled antimicrobial functional fabrics.
• To utilize flower-like bismuth oxyhalide (BiOClBr) nanoparticles as the active antimicrobial agent.
• To enhance coating robustness and durability using polymer binders.

Main Methods:

• Coating cotton and polyester fabrics with BiOClBr nanoparticles using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) binders.
• Ensuring microparticle uniformity via simultaneous probe sonication during synthesis.
• Investigating antimicrobial efficacy against Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria.

Main Results:

• BiOClBr-coated fabrics demonstrated significant inhibition of both S. aureus and E. coli.
• Antimicrobial efficacy of BiOClBr was superior to Bi2O3 and ZnO coated fabrics.
• BiOClBr-coated cotton showed 5.0-6.8 times higher E. coli disinfection efficacy compared to ZnO and Bi2O3.
• Mechanism involves the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Conclusions:

• BiOClBr is a highly effective material for creating durable, ambient light-activated antimicrobial fabrics.
• Polymeric binders enhance coating stability and mitigate metal leaching.
• These functional fabrics hold potential for cost-effective antimicrobial solutions in environmental and biomedical applications, including protective clothing.