journal article·2025-10-24Open access

Synthesis of sericin-coated silver nanoparticles and their applications for the anti-bacterial finishing of cotton fabric

Hongxia Chen, Guangyu Zhang, Wei Zhang, Weidong Gao

Nanotechnology Reviews· Volume 14· Issue 1

Abstract

Abstract Cotton fiber is a commonly used and highly compatible natural cellulose fiber. However, bacterial growth always affects people’s health. In this study, natural sericin extract, obtained from degumming treatment on silk cocoons, was proposed as a reducing agent and dispersant to prepare well-dispersed Ag nanoparticles (NPs), which showed strong adsorption capacity on amino cotton fabric to complete anti-bacterial modification. A series of characterizations, including ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ZETA potential, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, were used. The results showed that Ag + could be reduced to Ag 0 by sericin extract and formed a stable sol-like product in situ with a particle size of 12 nm. After soaking in the system, Ag NPs could successfully coat on amino cotton fabric. Significantly, sericin Ag NP-coated amino cotton fabric showed an anti-bacterial rate of more than 98% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus , and there was no significant change after washing 20 times. We believe that the prepared anti-bacterial fabric has great potential for scalable production and practical applications.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Silk-based biomaterials and applications · Dyeing and Modifying Textile Fibers · Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

College of Textile Science and Engineering, Jiangnan University , Wuxi , 214122 , China

School of Textile and Fashion, Jiangsu College of Engineering and Technology , Nantong , 226007 , China

School of Textile and Clothing, Nantong University , Nantong , 226019 , China

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