Functional finishing of cotton fabrics using silver nanoparticles.

We have reported a novel in situ synthesis protocol for silver nanoparticles onto cotton fabrics. Here, cotton fabric immersed in silver nitrate solution is autoclaved at 15 psi, 121 degrees C for 15 min. At this temperature and pressure, the aldehyde terminal of starch (residual size material on cotton fabric) reduced the silver nitrate to silver metal and simultaneously stabilized the nanoparticles on fabric itself. The UV-visible absorption spectrum of both cotton fabrics and bath solution showed a typical absorption peak at 420 nm corresponding to the surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles. With the help of transmission electron micrographs, the average size of the dislodged silver nanoparticles in water is calculated to be 20.9 +/- 13.7 nm. This silver nanoparticles impregnated cotton fabrics showed excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and bacteriostasis activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Also, silver nanoparticles impregnated fabrics expressed significant UV-protection capability in comparison with the untreated fabrics.