Antibacterial cotton fabric with enhanced durability prepared using L-cysteine and silver nanoparticles

L-cysteine (Cys) and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were successfully linked onto the cotton fabric surfaces. The Cys molecules were covalently linked to the cotton fibers via esterification with the cellulose hydroxyl groups, and the Ag NPs tightly adhered to the fiber surface via coordination bonds with the Cys thiol groups. As a result, the Ag NPs coating on the cotton fabric showed an excellent antibacterial function with an outstanding laundering durability. The bacterial reduction rates (BR) efficiency reached 100 % for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). After 50 consecutive laundering cycles, the bacterial reduction rates (BR) against E. coli and S. aureus were maintained over 97 %. It has potential applications in a wide variety of fields such as sportswear, socks, and medical textile.