Evaluation of UPF and antibacterial activity of cotton fabric coated with colloidal seaweed extract functionalized silver nanoparticles.

In the present study, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) functionalized with seaweed (Padina gymnospora) extract was investigated. Thus synthesized AgNPs were coated on cotton fabric by pad try-cure method using citric acid as a cross linking agent. The chemical linkage of colloidal AgNPs onto the cellulosic structure are characterized and confirmed by FTIR, SEM, EDX and AFM analysis. The optical, crystalline and morphological features of the functionalized AgNPs were confirmed by UV-Visible, X-ray diffraction and TEM analysis. The size of the functionalized AgNPs was found to be 2-20 nm, there by rendering the small spherical shaped particles are suitable for the biomedical applications. The surface roughness (R) of the sample was found to be 70 μm. AgNPs coated fabric getting greater UPF (UV Protection Factor) values than they compared to seaweed extracts coated and uncoated cotton fabric. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs coated fabric was investigated, getting greater inhibition effect against S. aureus (Gram positive) and E. coli (Gram negative) microbial strains. Durability of the AgNPs coating was also tested after 10 repeated washings. Then after the 10 repeated washings of AgNPs coated fabric provided the better retainable UV protection efficiency and microbial inhibitory activity results obtained as for the before washings with slight changes.