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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
07:47
An Antimicrobial Fabric Using Nano-Herbal Encapsulation of Essential Oils
Published on: April 7, 2023
ZnO-Functionalized Cotton Textiles with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity, Moisture Management, and Wear Comfort
Md Ariful Islam1, Md Mehedi Hassan2, Md Tanvir Hossain3
1Department of Textile Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur, Gazipur 1707, Bangladesh.
ACS Omega
|August 1, 2026
Summary
Cotton fabric functionalized with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) shows excellent antibacterial properties. This treatment also enhances fabric comfort and moisture management, creating advanced hygienic textiles.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Textile Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Cotton textiles are explored for antibacterial applications using metal oxide nanoparticles.
- Fabric comfort and moisture performance of functionalized textiles require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To functionalize cotton fabric with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs).
- To evaluate the antibacterial, moisture management, and comfort properties of ZnO NP-coated cotton textiles.
Main Methods:
- Controlled exhaustion and thermal fixation were used to synthesize ZnO NPs on cotton twill fabric.
- Characterization involved FTIR, XRD, and SEM.
- Antibacterial activity, moisture management (MMT), and fabric comfort (FTT) were assessed.
Main Results:
- ZnO NP functionalization demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (∼99% reduction).
- Moisture management tests showed measurable changes in liquid spreading and transport (20-30% fluctuation).
- Fabric comfort analysis indicated improvements in bending rigidity, friction, roughness, compression, and thermal properties (10-25% increase).
Conclusions:
- ZnO NP functionalization offers multifunctional benefits for cotton textiles.
- The study highlights improved antibacterial efficacy, altered moisture management, and enhanced comfort in ZnO-coated fabrics.
- This research supports the development of advanced hygienic textiles with added comfort features.
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