In situ formation of silver nanoparticles for multifunctional cotton containing cyclodextrin

Abstract This research presents new approach for functionalization of cotton fabrics against antibacterial. It comprises: (a) synthesis and characterization of two polymeric products that can referred to as reactive copolymer (monochlorotriazinyl-β-cyclodextrin grafted with acrylic acid AA, MCT-βCD-g-PAA) and normal copolymer (β-cyclodextrin grafted with acrylic acid AA, βCD-g-PAA), (b) reacting cotton with the reactive copolymer (c) treatment of the chemically modified cotton so-obtained with silver nitrate, (d) in situ reduction of silver ions using either the copolymer (βCD-g-PAA) or a conventional reducing agent, namely, sodium borohydride, and (e) monitoring the antibacterial activity and resilience properties of the modified cotton fabrics. FTIR, SEM, and X-ray diffraction were employed to prove the structure of the synthesized polymeric products as well as micro structural changes in cotton cellulose as a result of the aforementioned treatments. The finished fabrics displayed superior antibacterial activity along with good fabric stabilization as indeed by fabric resilience.