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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #261006
Title: Absorbent silver (I) antimicrobial fabrics

Author
item Parikh, Dharnidhar
item Sachinvala, Navzer

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/26/2005
Publication Date: 9/27/2010
Citation: Parikh, D.V., Sachinvala, N.D. 2010. Absorbent silver (I) antimicrobial fabrics. In: American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) Digital Monograph Series, Vol. 2, Antimicrobial Testing & Technology. Research Triangle Park, NC: AATCC. p. 30-41.

Interpretive Summary: The therapeutic value of silver has been known since the 5th century. Ciro the Great ordered his troops to transport water in silver pots to protect drinking water to preserve its potability. Silver (I) is active against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, fungi and several viruses. Antimicrobial nonwovens were prepared with silver nitrate and carboxymethylated cotton in a two-step process.By imparting antimicrobial properties to alginates that are used as moist wound dressings, we have expanded the functionality of the dressings.

Technical Abstract: In recent years, silver in form of silver ions, has been gaining importance in the wound management as an effective broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. Silver has a long history as an antimicrobial agent, especially in the treatment of wounds. Alginates and carboxymethyl (CM) cotton contain carboxyl groups that readily exchange cations. In this paper we discuss the preparation and evaluation of silver antimicrobial nonwovens and woven barrier fabrics. Silver containing nonwoven alginate fabrics were prepared from commercial sodium/calcium alginate dressings. Silver containing cotton fabrics were prepared from the sodium forms of CM-cotton print cloth and CM-cotton nonwovens. Coordination of silver with carboxylate ions on fabrics was effected by proton exchange of sodium and calcium ions followed by substitution with silver. The antimicrobial fabrics were evaluated against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae cultures and showed 99.99% suppression. Imparting antimicrobial properties to alginate dressings extends their usefulness. Preparing Silver CM-cotton dressings enables us to propose new low cost alternatives from cotton.