Antimicrobial Treatments for Textile Applications
Summary
Textile materials provide a favourable environment for microbial colonisation owing to their large surface area, moisture retention and close contact with human skin. Unchecked growth of bacteria and fungi not only degrades fabric strength, colour and odour, but also poses risks to wearer comfort and public health. To address these issues, a range of chemical and physical strategies has been developed. Chemical approaches include incorporation or surface linkage of antimicrobial agents such as metal nanoparticles, quaternary ammonium compounds, triclosan and natural biopolymers. Physical methods involve plasma treatments, ultraviolet grafting and nanostructured surface modification to immobilise biocidal species and disrupt microbial adhesion. Recent advances focus on durability under laundering, controlled release of active agents, minimised toxicity and sustainable processing. Emerging directions encompass stimuli-responsive coatings, bio-inspired polymers and green chemistry routes to reduce environmental impact while maintaining long-term efficacy.
Research from Nature Portfolio
A recent foundational study demonstrated a three-step atmospheric pressure plasma process to embed silver nanoparticles uniformly within non-woven polyethylene terephthalate. An initial organosilicon primer layer promoted nanoparticle adhesion, followed by dip-coating with colloidal Ag and an ultra-thin overcoat that regulates ion release. Surface analyses confirmed even distribution of silver and strong chemical bonding. Antimicrobial tests against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and fungal strains showed over 99 % reduction in viability. Crucially, the barrier layer preserved nanoparticle retention through multiple wash cycles, highlighting a route to durable, high-performance textile finishes without significant particle leaching.
Antimicrobial Treatments for Textile Applications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in antimicrobial treatments for textile applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Silver nanoparticle (AgNP): Colloidal metal particles (1–100 nm) used for broad-spectrum antimicrobial action via ion release and membrane disruption.
Plasma deposition: A surface-modification technique using ionised gas to activate fibres, initiate polymer grafts or deposit thin films without wet chemistry.
Grafting: Covalent attachment of functional molecules or polymers onto textile fibres to immobilise biocidal agents and improve wash durability.
Quaternary ammonium compound: Cationic surfactants that interact with microbial cell membranes, causing structural collapse and cell death.
References
- Antimicrobial Approaches for Textiles: From Research to Market. Materials (2016).
- Sustainable Personal Protective Clothing for Healthcare Applications: A Review. ACS Nano (2020).
- Antimicrobial nano-silver non-woven polyethylene terephthalate fabric via an atmospheric pressure plasma deposition process. Scientific Reports (2015).
- Plasma-Assisted Antimicrobial Finishing of Textiles: A Review. Engineering (2022).
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