Surface modification by carboxymethy chitosan via pad-dry-cure method for binding Ag NPs onto cotton fabric.

To obtain durably antimicrobial cotton fabric, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) was covalently linked to cotton fibers via an esterification with the cellulose hydroxyl groups, and the silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were adhered to the fiber surface by the coordination bonds with the amino groups of CMC. The finished cotton fabrics have an excellent antibacterial function and outstanding laundering durability. Even after 50 consecutive laundering tests, the modified cotton fabrics still show satisfactory bacterial reduction rates (BR) against both S. aureus and E. coli, which are all higher than 94%. These findings allow for broader applications of antimicrobial cotton textiles with a decreased safety risk and lower environmental impact arise from the Ag NPs.