Silver-decorated boron nitride nanocomposite-infused cotton fabric with durable antimicrobial and multifunctional properties

The textile industry is rapidly evolving to meet growing consumer demands for advanced, functional products. While traditional textiles have improved in mechanical strength, durability, and attributes like flame retardancy, cotton fabrics remain vulnerable to microbial degradation due to moisture retention. This study presents a novel approach that utilizes boron nitride (BN) and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to impart antimicrobial properties to cotton fabrics. Silver-decorated BN (BN-Ag) was synthesized and functionalized with carboxyl groups, enabling strong ester bond formation with cotton cellulose, significantly enhancing antimicrobial efficacy against Gram-positive <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>, 99.57%) and Gram-negative <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>, 99.64%). The BN-Ag treated fabric exhibited impressive antioxidant activity (51.78%) and ultraviolet (UV) protection (98.39% for UVA and 98.4% for UVB), surpassing untreated cotton. Furthermore, thermal resistance was reduced by 21.23%, indicating improved heat dissipation for smart textile applications. UV protection factor (UPF) analysis classified BN-Ag fabrics as excellent UV protectors (UPF 62.56). Long-term stability assessments revealed that the fabrics maintained antimicrobial efficacy (97.61% against <i>S. aureus</i> and 97.11% against <i>E. coli</i>) and antioxidant activity (43.73%) after six months with 20 home washes, demonstrating the durability of functional properties. This innovative approach promises to revolutionize textile materials, enhancing properties and performance for diverse applications.