Antimicrobial treatment of silk with silver nanoparticles using acrylic binder

Application of silver nanoparticles with self cross-linking binders by pad-dry-cure method has been attempted in this study. Application parameters have been optimized and relevant physical, structural and antimicrobial properties are evaluated. Mechanism of the binder action is found to be impregnation or adhesion. Silver nanoparticles are fixed on the silk fibroin either by entrapping in the binder matrix or due to the adhesive force involved. FTIR studies prove that there is no chemical binding of silver nanoparticles involved. SEM image shows that the binder is impregnated in the interstitials with some amount of adherence as coating. Based on X-ray diffraction studies, the treatment is observed to be predominately in the amorphous region. The antimicrobial activity due to the treatment is found to be good and fast to drycleaning with loss in strength well within the industrial norms.