Synthesis of applicable hydrogel corn silk/ZnO nanocomposites on polyester fabric with antimicrobial properties and low cytotoxicity

Corn silk as a clean and cheap agricultural waste with protein and cellulosic structure and traditionally usages was applied on polyester for the first time to increase the cell viability of zinc oxide on polyester fabric creating good hydrogel properties. The corn silk was first dried under sunlight, powdered and dispersed into the homogeneous solution using sodium hydroxide/urea at boil. Zinc acetate and a cationic surfactant along with the polyester fabric were placed in the alkali solution with or without corn silk at boil for 1 h. The samples were characterized by SEM images, EDX, FTIR spectroscopy and XRD. The vertical wicking, water absorption and self-cleaning activities of the treated fabrics were also investigated. The synthesized ZnO without corn silk was presented nanoplate and spherical shape nanoparticles however in presence of corn silk only the spherical shape nanoparticles were formed. Excellent antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans and cell viability on the human cells were obtained on the fabric conataining corn silk/zinc oxide nanocomposites close to 100 and 87%, respectively. Finally, application of corn silk along with synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles introduced a novel polyester fabric with antimicrobial, highly hydrophilic, self-cleaning properties having low cytotoxicity. [Display omitted] •Using corn silk as a clean and cheap protein and cellulosic source for polyester modification.•In-situ synthesis of corn silk/zinc oxide nanocomposites on polyester fabric through one-step method.•Good antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.•Low cytotoxicity on the treated fabric with cell viability of 87%.•Introducing good hydrogel properties on the polyester fabric.