Synthesis and characterization of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with oxyethylated alkylphenol (neonol) for potential modification of fabric materials

This work demonstrates the first time synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) stabilized with neonol. The synthesis method was optimized using a multifactorial experiment with three input parameters. The most stable sample had a radius of 15 nm and a ζ-potential of -36.76 mV. It was found that the optimal parameters for the synthesis of Se NPs stabilized with neonol are the following concentration values: 0.12 mol/L selenic acid, 0.095 mol/L neonol and 0.95 mol/L ascorbic acid. Quantum chemical modeling of Se-neonol molecular complex formation showed that interaction of Se with neonol occurs through a hydroxyl group. Difference in the total energy of the neonol molecule and Se-neonol molecular complex is more than 2399 kcal/mol, which indicates that formation of chemical bond between Se and neonol is energetically advantageous. It was found that all samples exhibit stability over the entire pH range from 1.81 to 11.98, and the particle size is in the range of 25-30 nm. The analysis of the study of the influence of the ionic force showed that cations do not significantly affect the Se NPs radius, but anions have a significant effect, increasing the average hydrodynamic radius up to 2750 nm. For modification with Se NPs, silk, gauze, wool, cotton and cardboard samples were used. Elemental mapping of the samples showed an ambiguous distribution of Se NPs over the surface of fabric material. Assessment of potential antibacterial activity of modified fabric materials revealed inhibition zones of Micrococcus luteus growth from 12 to 16 mm for silk, gauze, wool and cotton. Notably, the most intense inhibition of Micrococcus luteus was observed in wool treated be Se NPs stabilized with neonol. Cardboard did not express Micrococcus luteus growth inhibition action because of weak interaction of cellulose filaments with Se NPs and neonol and possible microbial digestion of cellulose and xylan.