A team of Pakistani researchers has developed a low-cost antibacterial fabric that can be used in wound dressing, lab coats, masks and various types of packaging materials.

Pakistani scientists develop low-cost anti-bacterial fabric

Pakistani scientists develop low-cost anti-bacterial fabric The team led by Saadat Majeed, Associate Professor-Division of Analytical Chemistry at the Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan, tested the eco-friendly Chitosan and silver nanoparticles modified fabric for four common types of bacteria. Bacteria are the most common cause of infectious diseases worldwide. The fabric was very effective in preventing microbial contamination. The research appeared in Nature, a prestigious science journal. The research team took the normal fabric and treated it with alkali, which created the active sites in the fabric for modification. Then they dipped the fabric piece in silver nanoparticles and Chitosan – a type of sugar from crabs and lobsters – which coated the cloth with an extra invisible layer.

Low-cost anti-bacterial fabric “This coating has active antimicrobial properties and kills the bacterial strains immediately upon contact,” the lead researcher told The Express Tribune, adding that many other methods involve toxic chemicals or expensive equipment, but this method is relatively easy and affordable. “All we need is a beaker and cost-effective material for modifications,” Chitosan is a biomaterial used for many biomedical applications including antibacterial activities. It has excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. The positive ionic charges created on the backbone of the chitosan during treatment effectively provide the sites for further modifications and immobilisation.

On the other hand, silver nanoparticles are one of the emerging materials in scientific research and development. These nanomaterials exhibit large surface area and tuneable particle size which render them an effective tool in combating bacteria. The coating of these two materials in the fabric can allow protection against microbes with minimal cytotoxicity and synergistically. The piece was observed with different techniques to check how well the coating spread evenly. The fabric was double-checked with electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography.

Source: This news is originally published by tribune

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