Synthesis, structural characterization and antibacterial activity of cotton fabric modified with a hydrogel containing barium hexaferrite nanoparticles

•Ultrasound synthesis of nanosized BaFe12O19 was described.•Nanoparticles embedded in a hydrogel were dispersed on a cotton fabric surface.•The composite material exhibited good antimicrobial activity against pathogens.

Barium hexaferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation of Ba2+ and Fe3+ cations with NaOH under of high-power ultrasound. The nanoparticles were dispersed in an aqueous solution of the hydrogel precursors. This solution was used to impregnate the cotton fabric dyed with a photoinitiator. The composite material BaFe12O19 nanoparticles-hydrogel-cotton fabric was prepared by surface initiate photopolymerization under visible light.The modification of the cotton fabric and uniform distribution of the nanoparticles in the structure of the hydrogel were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), fluorescence and colourimetric analyses. The antibacterial efficacy of the material was evaluated against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

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