Gamma irradiation of cotton fabrics in AgNO3 solution for preparation of antibacterial fabrics

•γ-Irradiation of cotton fabric in Ag+/chitosan solution to prepare Ag nano/fabric.•Chitosan was used as a stabilizer and binder for Ag nano on cotton fabric.•The Ag nano content on fabric was about 1700mg/kg for 1.5mM Ag+ in solution.•SEM image and XRD pattern proved the presence of Ag nano on fabric.•Ag nano/cotton fabric showed highly antibacterial activity and innoxious to skin. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with diameter about 12nm were immobilized on the surface of cotton fabrics by γ-irradiation of fabrics in the AgNO3 chitosan solution. Effects of absorbed dose, concentration of AgNO3 solution on immobilization of the AgNPs on fabrics were investigated. The optimal dose was selected to be 13.8kGy and the suitable concentration of AgNO3 was 1.5mM in 1% chitosan solution. The content of AgNPs on fabrics was of 1696±80mg/kg for these conditions. The presence of AgNPs on fabrics was confirmed from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and X ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs/cotton fabrics after 40 washings against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was found to be 99.99%. In addition, the AgNPs fabrics were innoxious to the skin (k=0) after 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 washings by skin-irritation testing to animal (rabbit).