Development of improved nanosilver-based antibacterial textiles via synthesis of versatile chemically modified cotton fabrics

Abstract Cationization of cotton fabric form was effected by reacting the cellulose with 3-chloro-2 hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride in presence of sodium hydroxide as per the pad dry cure method. Thus obtained cationized cotton cellulose was reacted with a reactive copolymer, namely, reactive β-cyclodextrin grafted with polyacrylic acid (MCT-βCD-g-PAA).Bridging of another copolymer, namely, β-cyclodextrin grafted with polyacrylic acid (βCD-g-PAA) to the cationized fabric using epichlorohydrin crosslinker was also performed. Inclusion of Ag nanoparticles in these three cotton substrates via treatment of the latter with colloid of Ag nanoparticles or through in situ formation of the former was exercised. Characterization of cotton fabric before and after being chemically modified was carried out using FTIR, XRD and SEM. Bacterial examination of the cationized cotton containing either (MCT-βCD-g-PAA) or (βCD-g-PAA) incorporated with Ag nanoparticles showed these substrates function against G+ve and G−ve bacteria. Ability of (MCT-βCD-g-PAA) modified cotton to include hydrophobic molecules was examined.