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The Highly Durable Antibacterial Gel-like Coatings for Textiles
Seyedali Mirmohammadsadeghi1, David Juhas2, Mikhail Parker1
1Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA.
Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2024
Summary
This study presents Silver Shell™, a durable antibacterial fabric finish using chitosan-bound silver chloride microparticles. It effectively eliminates bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, even after extensive washing, enhancing textile safety.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Textile Engineering
Background:
- Hospital-acquired infections are a major public health concern, with textiles in healthcare settings acting as reservoirs for pathogenic bacteria.
- Effective antibacterial treatments for textiles are crucial to mitigate infection transmission and reduce the societal burden of healthcare-associated infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a durable antibacterial gel-like solution, Silver Shell™ finish, for textiles.
- To investigate the structural, antibacterial, and durability properties of the Silver Shell™ finish, including its environmental impact and health risks.
- To assess the efficacy of the finish against common hospital-acquired pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of the Silver Shell™ finish structure using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).
- Evaluation of uniform deposition on fabric surfaces using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).
- Quantitative analysis of antibacterial properties using AATCC Test Method 100 and assessment of leaching properties via AATCC-147.
Main Results:
- TEM revealed a core-shell structure with chitosan encapsulating silver microparticles; FESEM confirmed uniform fabric coating.
- Coated fabrics demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy, achieving 100% reduction of S. aureus and E. coli after 75 wash cycles with crosslinking agents.
- Even without crosslinking agents, reductions of 99.88% and 99.81% were observed after 50 washes, with up to 99.99% reduction on cotton fabric.
Conclusions:
- Silver Shell™ finish provides highly durable and effective antibacterial properties for textiles, crucial for healthcare environments.
- The use of crosslinking agents enhances the longevity and reduces particle leaching, ensuring sustained antibacterial performance.
- The developed finish offers a promising solution for reducing bacterial contamination on high-touch surfaces in healthcare settings.
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