Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Nanosilver Deposited Cotton Fabric Coated with γ-Methacryloxypropyl Trimethoxysilane

The simple and industrially adjustable process of silver nanoparticles deposition on cotton fabric followed by coating with γ-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MPS), as well as the properties of obtained nanocomposite has been investigated. Silver nanoparticles were prepared through the reduction of silver nitrate with sodium borohydrate and deposited on cellulose fabric. In order to stabilize obtained nanostructured material and improve its properties, the fabric was treated by immersion in cross linkable MPS. The morphology of the finished fabrics was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It has been determined that process does not impair nanocharacter of silver particles and yield uniform distribution throughout the fabric surface. The concentration of Ag in the fabric samples was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The average deposited amount of nanoparticles was found to be 63 ppm and 48 ppm for samples without and those with MPS, respectively. The character of obtained polysiloxane coating was examined using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The presence of SiOSi bonds on the cellulose surface pointed out to self-condensation between silanol groups. Differential Thermal and Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (DTA/TGA) revealed that MPS deposited on fabric provided modification of thermal properties. The change of the surface properties after the modification was ascertained by contact angle measurements. The antimicrobial activity of the antibacterial finish on the cotton fabric, expressed as bacterial reduction efficiency, has been determined. Bacterial reduction of at least 88.5% against both, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, has been obtained.