Effect of plasma superficial treatments on antibacterial functionalization and coloration of cellulosic fabrics

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 392; pp. 1126 - 1133
• Main Authors: Ibrahim, Nabil A., Eid, Basma M., Abdel-Aziz, Mohamed S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-01-2017
• Subjects: Antibacterial functionalization; Antibacterial properties; Antibiotics; Bacteria; Biosynthesized Ag NPs; Cellulosic substrates; Combined coloration and functionalization; Durability; Escherichia coli; Fabrics; Nanoparticles; Plasma pretreatment; Silver; Staphylococcus aureus; Substrates; Surface chemistry; Biosynthesized Ag NPs; Combined coloration and functionalization; Cellulosic substrates; Plasma pretreatment; Antibiotics; Antibacterial functionalization
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.09.141

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•Surface modification using plasma.•Creation of active sites as anchor for active ingredients.•Antibacterial functionalization using Ag-NPs alone and Ag-NPs/antibiotic hybrids.•Combined coloration and antibacterial functionalization.
Remarkable improvement in antibacterial activity and durability of different cellulosic substrates namely cotton, linen, viscose and lyocell was achieved by pre-surface modification using N2-plasma to create new active and binding sites, –NH2 groups, onto the modified fabric surfaces followed by subsequent loading of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) alone and in combination with certain antibiotics using exhaustion method. The imparted antibacterial activity against both G+ve (S. aureus) and G−ve (E. coli) pathogens was governed by type of substrate, extent of modification and subsequent loading of antibacterial agent, synergistic effect, and antibacterial activity as well as type of harmful bacteria. A remarkable antibacterial activity still retained even after 15 washings.
In addition, incorporation of Ag NPs into pigment printing paste and into acid dyeing bath for combined coloration and functionalization of O2-plasma and N2-plasma pre-modified substrates respectively were successfully achieved.
Moreover, both SEM images and EDS spectra of selected substrates revealed the change in surface morphology as well as the presence of the loaded Ag element onto the post-treated substrates.