Antibacterial Nanoparticle Applications in Textile Materials
Summary
Antibacterial nanoparticle integration into textile substrates has emerged as a transformative approach to endowing fabrics with persistent antimicrobial functionality and added value for healthcare, hygiene and protective applications. Metallic nanoparticles such as silver, gold and selenium exhibit broad‐spectrum activity through mechanisms that include membrane disruption, generation of reactive oxygen species and controlled ion release. Nanoparticles can be synthesised in situ on fibres or deposited by surface functionalisation methods such as exhaustion, pad-dry-cure and plasma-assisted binding, often in combination with biopolymers or textile pretreatments to enhance adhesion and wash durability. Core–shell and alloy formulations further refine ion release profiles while minimising cytotoxicity. Beyond bactericidal performance, multifunctional coatings incorporating nanoparticles can confer ultraviolet shielding, antioxidant activity and electrical conductivity, opening routes to smart and protective clothing. Emphasis on eco-friendly synthesis, for example using plant extracts or biopolymers as reducing and capping agents, aligns these developments with sustainability goals. Collectively, these innovations address critical global needs for antimicrobial textiles in clinical environments, personal protective equipment and everyday wear, while advancing our understanding of nanoparticle–fibre interactions and long-term performance under laundering and wear conditions.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Antibacterial Nanoparticle Applications in Textile Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in antibacterial nanoparticle applications in textile materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nanoparticle: A particle with at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nm, often exhibiting unique surface and electronic properties.
In situ synthesis: Generation of nanoparticles directly on or within a textile substrate, enhancing binding and uniform dispersion.
Surface functionalisation: Chemical or physical modification of fibre surfaces to immobilise nanoparticles or improve adhesion.
Antimicrobial efficacy: The ability of a material to inhibit or kill microorganisms, typically measured by reduction in colony counts or inhibition zones.
Wash durability: The retention of functional properties, such as antimicrobial activity or nanoparticle coverage, after repeated laundering.
References
- Novel Antiviral and Antibacterial Durable Polyester Fabrics Printed with Selenium Nanoparticles (SeNPs). Polymers (2022).
- Multifunctional Chitosan/Gold Nanoparticles Coatings for Biomedical Textiles. Nanomaterials (2019).
- Facile and Eco-Friendly Fabrication of Colored and Bioactive Silk Materials Using Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized by Two Flavonoids. Polymers (2018).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.