2010-A Novel Self-Assembled Antimicrobial Coating on Textiles Using Chitosan Nanoparticles

A Novel Self-Assembled Antimicrobial Coating on Textiles Using Chitosan Nanoparticles


S. Wazed Ali, Indian Institute of Technology, India


Introduction


With the advent of nanoscience and technology, developments in the field of biochemistry, physical chemistry and microscopy has resulted in a tremendous upsurge of interest in various nanomaterials and their possible applications in a wide variety of products.
Researchers working in the area of textiles are investigating the possible applications of
nanotechnology for producing more appealing and highly functional value-added textile
substrates. Coating the surface of textiles and clothing or incorporating the fibres with
nanoparticles is the latest approach for the production of highly active textile surfaces with a range of functionality such as UV blocking, antimicrobial, flame retardant, water repellent and self-cleaning properties, etc. While antimicrobial properties are exerted by nano-silver, several metal oxide nanoparticles such as nano TiO2, ZnO, SiO2, etc. as coatings impart self-cleaning,flame-retardant and hydrophobic properties.
It has recently been reported in the literature that the antimicrobial activity of chitosan in nano form is much enhanced as compared to normal chitosan1. Although there is a lot of literatures on the use of chitosan based antimicrobial textiles where normal chitosan has been used as coating or finishing, but there is no literature reported on the application of chitosan nanoparticles on textile substrates for its enhanced antibacterial effect with low concentration.
This study aims to investigate the use of chitosan nanoparticles for antimicrobial textile
applications as chitosan in nano form is highly active because of very high surface area to volume ratio and expected to have desirable bioactivity even at low concentrations.