Ag(0) nanoparticles containing cotton fabric: Synthesis, characterization, color data and antibacterial action.

The main objective of the current research was to successfully employ the reducing and stabilizing features of xanthan gum to synthesize nanosilver, then coating cotton fabrics with the net produced nanosilver in order to obtain finished fabrics valuable in medical applications. Pre-hydrolyzed xanthan gum was used to reduce Ag(+) to Ag(0) in nano size using a simple one-step rapid synthetic route. The reduction step was followed up by measuring the concentration of reducing sugars eliminated in the reaction medium. The optimum concentration of xanthan gum was 3g/L to reduce 1 mmol/L Ag(+), as 2.66 ± 0.4 g/L was the maximum concentration of reducing sugars obtained in the reaction. Transmission microscope images show that the AgNPs are spherical in shape with mean size 9.1 ± 4.8 nm. Cotton fabrics were then coated with the produced AgNPs using pad-dry-cure method. Well dispersed layer from Ag(0) on cotton surface was showed under electron microscope. The biocidal activities of the coated fabrics were tested against Staphylococcus aureus and showed excellent results for antibacterial even after 20 washing cycles. This method has the advantage of not necessitating aggressive conditions such as the presence of organic solvents to produce durable antibacterial cotton fabrics.