Treatments to impart antimicrobial activity to clothing and household cellulosic-textiles - why Nano-silver?

The question raised in the title arose as a result of experiments we conducted to study sorption profiles of Ag+ on regenerated cellulosic fibers. There was reduction of Ag+ to Ag-0 on fibers immersed in solutions of AgNO3, in the absence of added reducing agents. Examinations of specimens revealed the presence of silver-metal particle clusters. The fibers exhibited antimicrobial activity comparable to that reported in literature for silver-nanoparticle (AgNP) containing substrates. In our analysis, we find no compelling reasons to justify efforts toward the synthesis, stabilization and incorporation of AgNPs in substrates, when it appears that the desired effects may be obtained with silver particulates formed on cellulosics simply by immersing substrates in solutions of AgNO3. We present the results of our sorption studies, and analysis, in defense of our question. We also address the current debate on environmental and toxicological issues surrounding the application and use of AgNPs. As titled, the scope of this discussion is limited to cellulosic clothing and household textile applications. It does not include the utilization of AgNPs for medical applications such as in wound dressings. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.