Anchoring silver nanoparticles using catechol-derived resins: An efficient and versatile approach for producing durable antimicrobial fabrics

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are one of the most popular antibacterial agents, but Ag NP-modified antibacterial fabrics often show poor laundering durability owing to the weak binding force of Ag NPs to the fabric. In this work, a hydrothermal synthesis of catechol formaldehyde resins (CFR) and Ag NPs from catechol, hexamethylenetetramine, and AgNO3 was developed, and a kind of coating called Ag/CFR was constructed in situ on the surface of cotton, polyester, polyamide, and their blended fabrics. Micromorphologies and chemical structures of the fabric and Ag/CFR coatings were studied, while the antimicrobial performance and other important properties of the fabrics were also investigated. The studies showed that CFR were generated in the solution and anchored Ag NPs onto the surface of the fabric. All the modified fabrics presented high antimicrobial activity with superior laundering durability, achieving a bacteriostasis and fungistasis rate of 99.99 % against S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans, even after 50 laundering cycles. Ag/CFR coatings had little influence on the mechanical properties, air permeability, and feel of the fabric. All the antimicrobial fabrics showed low cytotoxicity to NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts and contained no residual formaldehyde. This work provides an efficient and versatile approach for producing durable coatings for antimicrobial fabrics, which can be widely applied to clothing, bedding, and decorations.