Wash durability of silver nanoparticle finished cotton fabric

Abstract

The present study focusses a green synthesis route by synthesizing silver nanoparticles using neem leaf extract and applying them on cotton fabric. The wash durability of the nano-finished fabrics on the basis of antimicrobial activity was carefully assessed up to 20 laundering cycles. Antimicrobial performance of the finished fabrics was tested against a range of pathogenic microorganisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacteria), Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacteria), and Trichoderma (unicellular fungi) using established test procedures. The nano-finished cotton fabric treated with silver nanoparticles synthesized from neem leaves extract demonstrated excellent wash durability even after 20 wash cycles i.e. 95.32 percent reduction in microbial growth for P. aeruginosa, 93.80 percent for E. coli (-ve bacteria), 94.91 percent for S. aureus, 95.43 percent for B. cereus (+ ve bacteria) and 92.80 percent for Trichoderma fungi. This thorough analysis not only shows the potential of neem-mediated AgNP finishes as environmentally friendly substitutes for traditional chemical treatments, but it also sheds light on their potential long-term application in household goods, medical textiles, and hygiene textiles.