A green approach to improve the antibacterial properties of cellulose based fabrics using Moringa oleifera extract in presence of silver nanoparticles

Moringa oleifera leaf extract (ME) has been developed as an ecofriendly antibacterial agent for fabrics made from cotton or its modified forms, carboxymethyl cellulose and cationic cotton. In addition, we prepared silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with particle size ranged from 15-25 nm by using polyvinyl alcohol and glucose as reducing agent matrix to improve the antibacterial activity of cellulosic fabric finished with Moringa extract. The prepared silver nanoparticles were characterized by using UV-Vis spectra, Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the morphology of finished fabric surface. The mechanical properties of the finished fabric was evaluated. Also, the antibacterial activity of finished fabric was evaluated via both disk diffusion method on an agar plate and bacterial count colony method (bacterial reduction percent). The Moringa extract and silver nanoparticles finished fabric showed excellent antibacterial activity against S. aureus as Gram-positive bacteria and E. coli as Gram-negative bacteria so that they can be used as biocompatible and safe antibacterial finishing agent for cellulosic fabric.

Automated summary

Moringa oleifera leaf extract and silver nanoparticles finished fabric show excellent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, making them suitable as biocompatible and safe antibacterial finishing agents for cellulosic fabric.