“The evolution of antimicrobial fabrics: Nanoparticles as key agents in textiles innovation”

Anti-microbial fabrics are a special type of textile, whose properties are modified to fight against various microorganisms and prevent their transmission. The surface of textiles provides an environment for microorganism growth, so there is a need to create antimicrobial fabrics. One of the most promising methods to achieve antimicrobial properties in textiles is the incorporation of metal NPs including silver, copper, zinc and titanium. Metal NPs possess antimicrobial properties due to their high surface area, ability to release metal ions and photocatalytic activities. This review paper explores the various techniques used to incorporate metal nanoparticles into textiles including sol-gel process, pad dry cure and plasma treatment. The working mechanism by which metal NPs exhibit antimicrobial properties is also discussed in this paper. The fabrics coated with NPs can be characterized by using different techniques for different properties like wash durability, heat resistance, odour resistance, etc. A wide range of applications of antimicrobial fabric in the field of textile industry, and medical field such as hospital curtains, bedsheets, patient’s clothes, etc. Can be used to inhibit the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. This review further highlights future directions in this field including the development of sustainable safe and long lasting antimicrobial textile treatments. Overall, this study gives a detailed overview of antimicrobial fabrics coated with NPs, synthesis, characterization, properties, applications, and their future scope.