Natural mulberry biomass fibers doped with silver as an antimicrobial textile: a new generation fabric

In this study, silver-doped natural mulberry fibers were successfully obtained by the dip-coating technique. Arrays of material consisting of synthetic compounds (organic as well as inorganic) are being utilized to impart antimicrobial functionality to textiles. Therefore, the current study for the first time attempted to establish an innovative class of textiles made up of silver-doped natural mulberry fibers. This fabric will be utilized for the fabrication of antimicrobial socks. The morphology, physicochemical and antibacterial characteristics of Ag-doped mulberry fibers were scanned via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and antibacterial testing. SEM analysis evidently demonstrated uniform distribution of Ag on mulberry fibers and the outcome of XRD and FTIR analyses authenticated assimilation of Ag in the Ag-doped mulberry composite. The Ag-doped mulberry fibers revealed venerable antibacterial action against representative bacterium E. coli. The antibacterial analysis lead to the conclusion that the Ag-doped mulberry fiber textile has an enhanced bactericidal effect owing to the synergism of Ag and mulberry compounds. Moreover, Ag imparted an anti-odor effect on mulberry fiber. These distinctive organic–inorganic fibrous composite socks are antimicrobial, odor free and skin and environment friendly. Thus, this study recommends the use of Ag-doped mulberry fibers as a future material for the preparation of durable antibacterial new generation socks. These composite fibers can also be used as textile material for clothes such as sportswear and for medical purposes; for instance, bedcovers in hospital beds, etc.