Functionalization of medical cotton by direct incorporation of silver nanoparticles

Medical cotton is usually used to clean skin, pack wounds and in other surgical tasks. Such important usages make imparting the antibacterial property to medical cotton is so essential research. The current research focuses on functionalization of medical cotton by direct incorporation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in two-step process namely, pre-alkalization followed by sorption. Decorative color and antibacterial action were accomplished for medical cotton after in situ incorporation of AgNPs without using any other external reducing agent. AgNPs were produced due to the reduction action of alcoholic and aldehydic groups of cotton's skeletal blocks. Cotton fibers were acquired a decorative color attributed to surface plasmon resonance of AgNPs. The treated cotton was characterized by using electron microscope. Results showed that Ag0 with size distribution of 0-160 nm was formed in the cotton fibers and their size majority (70%) was less than 80 nm. The reduction of Ag+ to Ag0 was confirmed by measuring the carboxylic and aldehydic contents. The treated cotton exhibited excellent antibacterial action at low silver contents. The absorbency of cotton was not affected by treatment. The produced medical cotton could be used to safe cleaning of wounds without getting any microbial infections.