Antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles deposited on corona-treated polyester and polyamide fabrics

The possibility of using a corona treatment (electrical discharge at atmospheric pressure) for fiber surface activation, which can facilitate the loading of silver nanoparticles (NPs) from colloids onto the polyester (PES) and polyamide (PA) fabrics and thus improve their antibacterial properties, was studied. Bactericidal efficiency and its laundering durability on silver-loaded fabrics for Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli were evaluated. The fiber morphology after corona treatment and subsequent loading of silver NPs was followed by SEM. Corona-treated fabrics loaded with silver NPs exhibited better antibacterial properties in comparison with untreated fabrics. In order to obtain acceptable laundering durability, it is necessary to use highly concentrated silver colloids. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.