Antibacterial activity of copper-based nanoparticles synthetized on cotton fabric previously modified with oxalic acid

Abstract

This study discusses the possibility of fabrication of antibacterial textile nanocomposite by in situ synthesis of Cu-based nanoparticles on cotton fabric modified with oxalic acid. The change in chemical structure of the cotton fibres was assessed by FTIR spectroscopy. The presence of Cu-based nanoparticles on the cotton fabric was proved by SEM, EDX and AAS analyses. Chemical composition of the fabricated Cu based nanoparticles was evaluated by XPS analysis. Antibacterial activity of the textile nanocomposite was tested against Gram-negative bacterium E. coli and Gram-positive bacterium S. aureus. On the basis of the XPS measurements, it was suggested that synthetized nanoparticles consisted of metallic Cu/Cu2O and Cu2CO3(OH)2. Fabricated nanocomposite provided maximum reduction of both bacterial strains and controlled release of Cu2+ -ions in physiological saline solution which are necessary precondition for infection prevention.