Development and antibacterial performance of silver nanoparticles incorporated polydopamine–polyester-knitted fabric

Metallization is one of the finishing processes in textile treatment that can produce multifunctional effects. The present study dealt with the development of an antibacterial polyester-knitted fabric via facile and green impregnation of silver nanoparticles (SNPs). This was done by applying a polymeric foundation on the polyester-knitted fabric by simply dip-coating in the aqueous solution of dopamine. Then the SNPs were in situ fabricated and impregnated on the surface of polydopamine-modified polyester-knitted fabric in an aqueous solution of AgNO3 at room temperature. Thus, a multi-functional finishing of polyester-knitted fabric was done. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was done to confirm the polymer attachment. Scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray was done to confirm the presence of SNPs on treated fabric. The crystallography of the treated surface was examined by X-ray diffraction. The antibacterial properties of treated fabrics against broad spectrum bacterial strains were investigated and found significant.