Antibacterial Activity of Zn-Loaded Grafted Fibers-Mechanical Strength and Biocidal Action

Apart from exhibiting excellent properties such as biocompatibility, feeling like human skin, sweat absorptivity, and comfort, cotton fabric also creates a suitable environment for microorganisms to grow because of their tendency to absorb moisture. Hence, in order to impart antibacterial properties to cotton fibers, in the current study microorganisms have been graft copolymerized with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and acrylamide to produce micrometer-sized graft layer on the cotton fiber. The fibers have been loaded with Zn(II) ions to impart antibacterial character to them. The biocidal action of Zn(II) has been investigated as a function of percent grafting of polymeric chains on fibers and the concentration of Zn(II) ions in the immersion media, using zone inhibition method. Growth rates of bacterial colonies have been found to be appreciably low in the presence of Zn(II)-loaded grafted fibers. However, the grafting of cotton fibers has been found to decrease the mechanical strength of the resulting fibers.