Modifying cotton fabrics with copper nanoparticles to impart antibacterial properties

This article is dedicated to the development of antimicrobial cellulose textile materials based on copper nanoparticles, obtained following the principles of «green chemistry». The main goal of the research was to create an environmentally friendly method for modifying cotton fabrics, ensuring a stable antibacterial effect. Ascorbic acid was used as a reducing agent, while gelatin and glucose served as stabilizers. This choice allowed for the formation of stable colloidal systems of copper nanoparticles and their uniform distribution within the fibrous structure. To enhance the fixation of the nanoparticles, tetraethoxysilane was additionally used to form a silicon oxide matrix. The paper describes the synthesis and modification methods for cotton fabrics and analyzes the properties of the selected stabilizers. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the differences in nanoparticle morphology: using gelatin resulted in smaller and more uniform particles (30–74 nm), whereas glucose led to the formation of larger aggregates (56– 143 nm). These data are consistent with the results of microbiological tests: the treated samples showed a zone of inhibition of E. coli growth up to 0.4 mm. The practical value of the research lies in the development of a method that can be used to create functional cotton fabrics with antimicrobial and protective properties, which are in demand in the light and medical industries.

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