An innovative approach for antibacterial and anti-static nylon woven fabric through eco-friendly synthesized chitosan nanoparticles

Abstract The prime objective of the research is the eco-synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) and the development of the antistatic and antibacterial properties of nylon woven fabric. The CNPs were synthesized from water-soluble chitosan through sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and NaOH. In the pad-dry-cure method, CNPs were coated on nylon fabric with the help of a cross-linking agent. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis provided the microstructural structure and uniform deposition of particles with treated fabric. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis showed the effective bonding and stretching of CNPs with nylon fabric. The anti-bacterial activity (zone of inhibition) of different treated fabrics with CNPs (5 g/L, 10 g/L, and 15 g/L) against Staphylococcus aureus was 22 mm, 25 mm, and 25.5 mm, and against Escherichia coli was 23.5 mm, 24 mm, and 26 mm correspondingly by the disc diffusion method. When the quantity of CNPs was higher, the antimicrobial activity of the treated fabrics were higher because of the production of polycationic structure on the fabric surface, which minimized the growth of bacteria. The conductivity of nylon fabric surfaces was enhanced where the current flow was 4.86, 9.3, and 10.45µA, respectively, and the physical properties of tensile strength were also improved at 6.62, 14.83, and 20.61%, respectively. Graphical Abstract