Fabrication and antibacterial activity of polyester fabric modified by nanocellulose and graphene oxide-based silver nanoparticles

The increase of infectious diseases spreading through the respiratory system had adverse effects on global public health causing the increasing demand for individual prevented equipment. Therein, in this study, the fabric for antimicrobial was fabricated via pre-treatment of surface polyester fabric (PE) by nanocellulose@cetyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (NCs@CTAB–NCC) suspension for more hydrophilicity and then, dip-coating with graphene oxide-based silver nanoparticles (AG) suspension to obtain PE decorated with graphene oxide-based silver nanoparticles (AG/NCC-PE). Subsequently, PE decorated with reduced graphene oxide-based silver nanoparticles (ARG/NCC-PE) was further prepared through a chemical reduction by vitamin C (LAA). The characterization of samples was determined via modern analysis methods. Also, the impacts of conditions for the fabric fabrication on the antibacterial activities against two strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were investigated by the inhibition diameter measurement. As a result, the optimal conditions for the reduction of AG/NCC-PE to ARG/NCC-PE were 1:2 in the AG:LAA mass ratio at 160 °C in 100 min, as can be witnessed by the high antibacterial performances on both strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, the Ag+ ion release was in the range of permission as followed by WHO standards, and high mechanical properties were recorded, as well. As clear, the mechanical results showed that, after treatment processes, both fabrics did not reveal any significant changes in the antibacterial activity. These results indicate that the AG/NCC-PE and ARG/NCC-PE have a potential application in individuals' protective equipment fields in disease prevention and medicine.