Antimicrobial Properties of Cotton E-Textiles Modified with Graphene Oxide and Silver Nanoparticles

This study investigates the bactericidal and fungicidal properties of graphene oxide flakes with an average lateral size of 1 μm and an oxygen content of ~45%, mildly oxidized graphene flakes with an average lateral size of 0.1 μm and an oxygen content of ~20%, and a silver nanoparticle–graphene oxide composite in aqueous suspensions and cotton textiles. It is shown that after 24 hours of microbial exposure to the graphene oxide flake suspension, Escherichia coli was reduced by 80%, Staphylococcus aureus by 40%, and Candida albicans by 100%, whereas the mildly oxidized graphene suspension eliminated E. coli and S. aureus by 100% but reduced C. albicans by only 40%. The use of silver nanoparticle–graphene oxide composites demonstrates more effective antimicrobial action, achieving 100% elimination of E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans within 24 hours of exposure. The antimicrobial efficacy of textiles treated with graphene oxide and mildly oxidized graphene against E. coli is similar and relatively high compared to their effectiveness against S. aureus and C. albicans. Textiles with silver nanoparticle–graphene oxide composites exhibited antimicrobial efficacy approximately twice as high as that of graphene oxide.