Characterisation and Efficacy Testing of Multifunctional Cotton Fabrics Based on Nanoparticles Green-Synthesized with Solanum Tuberosum Potato Peels

Abstract

The demand for antimicrobial cotton fabrics in hospitals is increasing due to exposure to microbes and susceptibility of cotton to microbial attack. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) offer antimicrobial properties, but their production is expensive and chemical intensive; necessitating environmentally friendly sustainable nanoparticle synthesis techniques. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to investigate the use of potato peel extracts in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles for the production of antibacterial finishes for textile fabrics. The specific objectives were: to characterise the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial properties of potato peel extracts, to investigate the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using potato peel extracts and the characteristics of the nanoparticles, to evaluate the synergy of silver nanoparticles and potato peel extracts applied on cotton fabrics against bacteria and to characterise the physical and chemical properties of the treated fabrics. Potato peel extracts were characterized using classical phytochemical screening, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and antibacterial agar well diffusion assay against staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) and escherichia coli (E.coli). AgNPs were synthesized using the reduction method and characterised using the scanning electron microscope, X-Ray diffractometer, FTIR, zeta-sizer, UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and the agar well diffusion assay. In-situ synthesis of AgNPs onto cotton fabrics was optimised using a Central Composite Design with synthesis time, incubation time and curing temperature as variables. The responses were bacterial reduction(%) of the AgNP-treated fabrics and loss in antibacterial activity(%) after washing. Developed models were statistically analysed using two-way ANOVA. In-situ synthesis was then performed using the optimised parameters. The treated fabrics were assessed for their antibacterial properties against S. aureus and E.coli using ISO-20743:2021, their morphology, tensile strength, elongation and air permeability. The results showed that potato peel extracts contain several phytochemicals including phenols and flavonoids; this was also observed in the FTIR spectra. The extracts displayed good antibacterial efficacy against S. aureus and E.coli. AgNP synthesis was confirmed by the formation of a golden brown solution and a UV-vis peak at 418 nm. The nanoparticles were spherical in shape, crystalline in nature, moderately stable, with an average size of 50.18 nm and antibacterial efficacy against both E.coli and S.aureus. Regression models for the in situ synthesis were significant with p-values less than 0.005 and R2 values of 90.28% and 87.99% for E.coli and S. aureus respectively. The optimum values were found to be: 42.18 hours incubation time, 3 hours synthesis time and 180 ℃ curing temperature. AgNP-treated fabrics demonstrated a 99.52 % and 99.01 % bacterial reduction after 20 washes for E.coli and S. aureus respectively. The AgNP-treated fabrics had a rougher surface, less air permeability, higher tensile strength and less percentage elongation than the untreated fabrics. In conclusion, potato peel extracts contain the necessary phytochemicals and can be utilized in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The results of the research also showed that potato peel extracts and green synthesized silver nanoparticles can be employed as durable antibacterial finishes for cotton fabrics. The study’s findings recommend using the optimised parameters for in-situ synthesis of AgNPs onto cotton fabric to achieve a higher percentage bacterial reduction and improved antibacterial finish durability