One-pot Modification on Cotton Fabric Using an Emulsion of Ag NPs Protected by Mercaptosuccinic Acid to Achieve Durably Antibacterial Effect

We presented a one-pot approach for fabrication of antibacterial cotton fabric using an emulsion of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) protected by mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA). The emulsion was used to finish cotton fabrics via a pad-dry-cure process, making the MSA molecules covalently linked to the cotton fibers by ester linkages with the hydroxyl groups of cellulose. The coordination bonds between the MSA molecules and the Ag NPs provide stable and durable effect on the immobilization of the Ag NPs on the cotton fabric, endowing its antibacterial function with an outstanding laundering durability. Even experienced 50 consecutive laundering tests, the modified cotton fabric exhibits satisfactory bacterial reduction rates against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. This paper provides a simple fabrication methodology to mitigate the safety risk and environmental impact that are typically found in the antimicrobial cotton textiles based on Ag NPs.