Chitosan Mediated Formation and Impregnation of Silver Nanoparticles on Viscose Fabric in Single Bath for Antibacterial Performance

Cellulosic materials being biodegradable are susceptible to bacterial attack. Present study was meant to develop an antibacterial viscose fabric via a clean, easy and reproducible approach. Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) were prepared using chitosan both as reducing and as well as stabilizing agent to promote green synthesis of SNPs. The prepared SNPs were characterized using dynamic light scattering and UV-visible (vis) absorption spectroscopy. The average size of SNPs was found to be 8.574 nm with respective zeta potential of +45.2 mV using AgNO₃ concentration of 1 mM and chitosan as 1 % (w/v). Pre-treated viscose fabric was undergone an in situ treatment to impregnate SNPs on its surface under certain autoclave conditions. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of SNPs on surface of treated viscose fabric in comparison with the untreated fabric. In addition, Fourier transform infrared and elemental analysis confirmed the presence of silver on the treated fabric. The textile properties of the viscose fabric samples like; tensile strength, wettability, antibacterial activity and whiteness were evaluated using the standard protocols. The developed treated viscose fabric showed good antibacterial properties against both Gram negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains with fair textile characteristics. This is the first report on in situ fabrication and impregnation of SNPs using chitosan as both reducing and stabilizing agent on a regenerated cellulose fabric like viscose.