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S. Riaz and M. Ashraf
loss in mechanical properties and sometimes undesired staining. Therefore, there is
a great need to develop products that offer protection against microbes. Antibacterial
textiles have become the fastest growing sector of textile industry due to its inflated
production over the years [3, 4]. Antibacterial textiles are of great concern in medical,
sportswear, food industry, and water purification systems etc. due to health, fitness
and hygienic concerns.
Natural and synthetic fibres can be made antibacterial through application of various natural and synthetic compounds such as plant extracts (Aloe vera, Neem, lotus),
chitosan, curcumin, triclosan, N-halamines, polybiguanides, quaternary ammonium
based compounds and nanomaterials [5, 6]. In particular nanoparticles of inorganic
metals and metal oxides (Ag, Cu, CuO, ZnO) are extensively used to functionalize
natural, synthetic and regenerated polymers because of their effective antibacterial
activity against different bacterial strains [4, 7–13]. Nanoengineered textile fabrics
are of huge interest owing to their superior functionality and performance without
affecting inherent characteristics of textiles [14].
To give an overview of recent advances in production and application of antibacterial agents to make antimicrobial textiles was the prime objective for this chapter.
Later, the particular focus was on inorganic antibacterial agents (metal oxide nanoparticles) and herbal antibacterial agents based textiles because they have the potential
for bringing advancements in textile to make it microbe resistant.
2 Mode of Action of Antibacterial Agents
Killing of bacteria is referred as biological self-cleaning. Biological self-cleaning
textile is capable to destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria attached to them. Action
of antibacterial agent to kill or stop the bacterial growth depends upon the type
of bacteria. Antibacterials now identified as agents have been used to eliminate or
disinfect the surfaces from potentially harmful bacteria. According to the speed of
action of antibacterial agents or the residue production these agents are divided into
two groups i.e. bacteriostatics, and bactericides.
On attachment of bacteria the surfaces become contaminated, therefore, the bacteria should be killed or their growth should be inhibited on their contact with any surface. Mostly bacteria are killed by antiseptics and disinfectants immediately because
of bacterial cell explosion which is called bacterial conjugation due to consumption
of bacterial resources and preventing multiplication of bacteria. Due to carboxylic
peripheral groups in bacterial cell wall, the total charge on bacterial strain is negative between pH 3–9. When exposed to some aqueous solutions, the cell wall gets
negative charge because of dissociation of these negative functional groups. When
cationic agents like silver, zinc, copper, manganese, chitosan etc. and bacteria are
in close proximity, the electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged
bacteria and cationic agent shows first interaction and strong adhesion causes strong
binding of bacteria with antibacterial agent. Then antibacterial agents can either kill
bacteria or they may inhibit the growth of bacteria. There are many ways of agents to
S. Riaz and M. Ashraf
loss in mechanical properties and sometimes undesired staining. Therefore, there is
a great need to develop products that offer protection against microbes. Antibacterial
textiles have become the fastest growing sector of textile industry due to its inflated
production over the years [3, 4]. Antibacterial textiles are of great concern in medical,
sportswear, food industry, and water purification systems etc. due to health, fitness
and hygienic concerns.
Natural and synthetic fibres can be made antibacterial through application of various natural and synthetic compounds such as plant extracts (Aloe vera, Neem, lotus),
chitosan, curcumin, triclosan, N-halamines, polybiguanides, quaternary ammonium
based compounds and nanomaterials [5, 6]. In particular nanoparticles of inorganic
metals and metal oxides (Ag, Cu, CuO, ZnO) are extensively used to functionalize
natural, synthetic and regenerated polymers because of their effective antibacterial
activity against different bacterial strains [4, 7–13]. Nanoengineered textile fabrics
are of huge interest owing to their superior functionality and performance without
affecting inherent characteristics of textiles [14].
To give an overview of recent advances in production and application of antibacterial agents to make antimicrobial textiles was the prime objective for this chapter.
Later, the particular focus was on inorganic antibacterial agents (metal oxide nanoparticles) and herbal antibacterial agents based textiles because they have the potential
for bringing advancements in textile to make it microbe resistant.
2 Mode of Action of Antibacterial Agents
Killing of bacteria is referred as biological self-cleaning. Biological self-cleaning
textile is capable to destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria attached to them. Action
of antibacterial agent to kill or stop the bacterial growth depends upon the type
of bacteria. Antibacterials now identified as agents have been used to eliminate or
disinfect the surfaces from potentially harmful bacteria. According to the speed of
action of antibacterial agents or the residue production these agents are divided into
two groups i.e. bacteriostatics, and bactericides.
On attachment of bacteria the surfaces become contaminated, therefore, the bacteria should be killed or their growth should be inhibited on their contact with any surface. Mostly bacteria are killed by antiseptics and disinfectants immediately because
of bacterial cell explosion which is called bacterial conjugation due to consumption
of bacterial resources and preventing multiplication of bacteria. Due to carboxylic
peripheral groups in bacterial cell wall, the total charge on bacterial strain is negative between pH 3–9. When exposed to some aqueous solutions, the cell wall gets
negative charge because of dissociation of these negative functional groups. When
cationic agents like silver, zinc, copper, manganese, chitosan etc. and bacteria are
in close proximity, the electrostatic force of attraction between oppositely charged
bacteria and cationic agent shows first interaction and strong adhesion causes strong
binding of bacteria with antibacterial agent. Then antibacterial agents can either kill
bacteria or they may inhibit the growth of bacteria. There are many ways of agents to