Desiccation-assisted Fabrication: A Novel Method for Developing Antimicrobial Textiles in Clinical Settings Using Montmorillonite

This study introduces a novel technique called Desiccation-Assisted Fabrication for fabricating antimicrobial cotton fabrics at the point of care. This method offers a simple, rapid, and cost-effective approach to impart antimicrobial properties to cotton fabrics, enabling their use in critical healthcare settings where infection control is paramount. Different concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles (2%, 2.5%, and 3% w/v) in alkaline water (pH 8.5) were prepared, drawn into a syringe, agitated for uniform dispersion, and precisely deposited onto cotton fabric. The fabric was placed on a natural desiccant powder (montmorillonite) to remove moisture, facilitating nanoparticle adhesion through physical adsorption. Subsequent heating thermofixed the nanoparticles onto the fabric. Characterization methods such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirm the consistent dispersion of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles across the coated fabric. Antimicrobial activity testing against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated the effectiveness of the fabric in inhibiting bacterial growth. The ability to precisely control the amount of nanoparticle deposition ensures consistent and reproducible results. This novel coating technique offers a simple, efficient, and cost-effective approach for applying metal oxide nanoparticles to textiles, particularly for small-scale or prototyping applications. However, it also holds the potential for automation, paving the way for large-scale production.