A

SEMINAR REPORT

ON THE

PRODUCTION OF ANTIMICROBIAL TEXTILES FOR CONTAINING COVID 19 AND

OTHER EMERGING MICROBIAL BORNE DISEASES

BY

OYESIJI AKOLADE JOSHUA

(CHE/15/4013)

SUBMITTED TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY,

THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE, ONDO STATE,

NIGERIA.

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY (B. Tech) DEGREE IN INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY.

OCTOBER,2021.

.
 CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this report spells out a detailed account of “Production of antimicrobial
textiles for containing covid 19 and other emerging microbial borne disease” and has been
prepared in accordance to regulations guiding the preparation of seminar reports in the
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State.

OYESIJI AKOLADE JOSHUA ………………….…….

(Student) Signature and Date

Report Reviewed by;

Dr Mrs E.P Oladele

……………………

(Seminar Supervisor) Signature and Date

Prof. A.E Okoronkwo ………………….

(Head of Department) Signature and Date

.
 DEDICATION

This seminar report is dedicated to God Almighty, the giver of life and my source of strength,
whose favor I received throughout my stay in the university. Also, special thanks to my parent
for their love, encouragement and support both financially, morally and spiritually.

.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, I acknowledge the presence of Almighty God; the Supreme Being and
the epitome of Love, for His mercy and protection throughout the period of this program and
granting me wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
Also, I appreciate my ever caring and loving parents MR&MRS OYESIJI and my entire
family for their moral material and financial support throughout my 5 years in FUTA.
I will like to appreciate my departmental HOD Prof. A.E. OKORONWKWO and the
entire staff of chemistry department, FUTA.
I will also like to thank my seminar supervisor Dr, (Mrs.) E.P OLADELE
Besides, I would not forget to express gratitude to these following people; JOY OYESIJI,
DAYO OYESIJI, FIKAYO OYESIJI, FAVOUR OYESIJI, THE OYESIJI’S FAMILY
Finally, I will like to appreciate the entire 500level students and other levels from chemistry
department, for their love, friendly supports and encouragement throughout my stay in the
university.
I pray that God will not leave you all alone.

.
 ABSTRACT

Most textile materials especially the natural textiles are potential substrates for microbial
growth. The microbial growth are undesirable in textiles material due to there undesirable effect
such as offensive odor, discoloration, degradation, mechanical strength reduction etc and so
therefore they must be reduced to the bearest minimum or even quench before the textile
material can be effectively suitable to meet there intended purposes of microorganism free.
Chemical finishing of textile materials (such as application of silver nanoparticles, quaternary
ammonium compounds, chitosan, some synthetic and natural dyes to mention a few) is capable
of imparting this functional property among others to the textiles. Although, mechanism of
antimicrobial activities of treated textiles is yet to be clearly defined, but in most cases,
antimicrobial action of treated textiles usually occurs through interaction of cation on
antimicrobial agents with anionic charged microbial cell wall. Antimicrobial treated textiles are
usually less prone to offensive odor, discoloration, deteriorating mechanical properties and make
the consumers free of skin problems. In fact, they can be used as cheap materials for production
of hospital gowns, hand gloves and face masks for containing microorganism borne diseases,
such as the current Covid-19 pandemic.

.
.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
1.2 Aim and Objective
1.3 Justification

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Antimicrobial and Microbial

2.1 The COVID’19
2.1.1 The modes of tans mission of microorganism

CHAPTER THREE

2.0 Antimicrobial agent and microbial destruction

3.1 Characteristics of antimicrobial textiles

3.2 Mechanism of Microbial destruction

3.3 Activities of antimicrobial agent in textiles

3.3.1 Silver component/composites

3.3.1.1 How it works

3.3.1.2 Uses and Production

3.3.1.3 Stabilization of silver Nanoparticles

3.3.1.4 Modifications of silver nanoparticles to contains

COVID-19

3.3.1.4 Failures of silver composites/compounds

3.3.2 Quartering ammonium compound

3.3.3 Chitosan

.
 3.3 4 Synthetic dyes

3.3.5 Natural dyes

3.4 Application of antimicrobial agents into textiles fibres

3.5 Antimicrobial exhaustion on textile fibre

3.6 Coating/dry pad application of antimicrobial agent on textile fibre

3.7 fibres with inherent antimicrobial properties

4.0 Conclusion

5.0 Reference

.
 CHAPTER 1

1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background study

Fibre consumption has increased over several decades; from 1950 to 2008, the per capita
consumption increased from 3.7 kg to 10.4 kg, and through continuous development, it recorded
in 2014 a demand of 55.2 million tons (122 billion pounds) of synthetic fibers, in addition to the
natural fibers, including cotton and wool, which have a demand of 25.4 million tons. Fiber-based
textile structures play an important role in several industries throughout the world, being used
every day in order to meet different purposes. Obviously, the technological advances of textiles
are mainly recognized in clothing products; however, they also play important roles in other
industries, such as food packaging, domestic home furnishings, automotive textiles, air filters,
water purification systems, thermal and mechanical protection, sport equipment, medical
devices, healthcare and hygienic applications. Therefore, as consumers are becoming
increasingly aware of the implications on personal hygiene and the health risks associated with
some microorganisms, the demand for antimicrobial textiles has presented a big increase over the
last few years. In 2000, it was estimated that the production of antimicrobial textiles reached
about 30,000 tonnes in Western Europe and 100,000 tonnes worldwide. Moreover, between 2001
and 2005, in Western Europe it was reported an annual production increase of antimicrobial
textiles around 15%, being one of the fastest growing sectors of the textiles industry. In a recent
issue of Performance Apparel Markets, the report “Antimicrobial fibres, fabrics and apparel:

.
innovative weapons against infection” referred to the global market for antimicrobial agents
being expected to increase by about 12% each year between 2013 and 2018.

1.1.2 Aim and objective

This review mainly intends to provide an overview of antimicrobial agents and treatments that
can be performed to produce antimicrobial textile on natural fibres, since they harbor more
microorganisms.

1.1.3 Justification

It covers for the unmet needs of the PPE and the chemicals used are environmental and humanly
friendly, but are acidic to the microorganisms to which they are being made for.

.
 CHAPTER 2

2.0 ANTIMICROBIAL AND MICROBIAL

What does “antimicrobial” mean?

Antimicrobial – a general term describing substances that kill or slow the growth of at least some
kinds of microbes
An antimicrobial product can have a range of effects on microbial growth that vary from weak to
strong.
Weak -> strong effects: Slows the rate of microbial growth -> stops growth -> kills some percent
of microbes over time -> kills some
percent of microbes quickly (e.g., < 10 min.) -> kills all microbes, including spore-forers
quickly.
When choosing products because of “antimicrobial” properties, purchasers should have access to
sufficiently detailed information
to know what kinds of antimicrobial effects have been demonstrated as well as risks and
tradeoffs associated with their use.

There are wide varieties of textile materials available in the market and each of them is meant
for a particular purpose; ranging from covering nakedness, decoration to medical purpose.

Moisture content (MC) and moisture regain (MR) are some of the important properties to be
considered for chosen these materials for intending purpose.

What is moisture content and moisture regain?

Moisture content(MC) of fibre is the ratio of amount of water present in a fibre to the weight of
undry fibre at standard atmospheric condition of 65% relative humidity and 25°C temperature.

Mc = 100(W1 - W2)/W1

W1= weight of undry fibre

W2 = weight of dry fibre

.
Moisture Regain (MR) of a fibre is measured at 65% relative humidity and 25°C atmospheric
temperature.

MC= 100W3/W2

W3=W2-W1

Generally, natural fibre contains high MC and MR, than there counterpart man-made fibres, so
they are more prone to the attacks of fibres and this is due to combination of fibre’s moisture and
warm environment (body temperature between 36 and 38°C) that favors microbial growth on
textile substrates. Therefore, many textile materials especially those from natural source are
potential media for microbial growth in their unmodified form and also couples with the large
surface area of textile structures enable microorganisms’ growth, which causes a range of
undesirable effects, not only on the textile itself, but also on the user. Due to the public health
awareness of the pathogenic effects on personal hygiene and associated health risks, over the last
few years, intensive research has been promoted in order to minimize microbes’ growth on
textiles

Demerits of microbial growth in textile

The major demerits of microbial growth in textile materials are

a. Offensive odor
b. Discoloration
c. Staining and
d. Mechanical strength
reduction.
e. At times, microbial growth on clothing materials may cause dermal infection on the skin
of the wearers.

These effects are more likely to occur in natural textile materials. They are disliked by textile
manufacturers and therefore, need to be avoided to the barest maximum. Several researchers
have tried in one way or the other to work on textile fibers (especially the natural fibers) in order
to reduce the rate at which they get attacked by microorganisms. Bhuiyan et al. reported
Lawsonia inermis L dyed jute fabric to have a good

.
Therefore, to impart an antimicrobial ability to textiles, different approaches have been studied,
being mainly divided into the inclusion of antimicrobial agents in the textile polymeric fibers or
their grafting onto the polymer surface. Regarding the antimicrobial agents, different types have
been used, such as quaternary ammonium compounds, triclosan, metal salts, polybiguanides or
even natural polymers. Any antimicrobial treatment performed on a textile, besides being
efficient against microorganisms, must be non-toxic to the consumer and to the environment.
This review mainly intends to provide an overview of antimicrobial agents and treatments that
can be performed to produce antimicrobial textiles, using chemical or physical approaches,
which are under development or already commercially available in the form of isolated agents or
textile fibers or fabrics.

Keynote: What give rise to the production of antimicrobial Textiles is the failure of PPE

What are PPE

(personal protective equipment)?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to protect healthcare workers (HCWs) from
highly infectious diseases such as COVID-19. However, hospitals have been at risk of running
out of the safe and effective PPE including personal protective clothing needed to treat patients
with COVID-19, due to unprecedented global demand. In addition, there are only limited
manufacturing facilities of such clothing available worldwide, due to a lack of available
knowledge about relevant technologies, ineffective supply chains, and stringent regulatory
requirements.

2.1 The Covid 19

In 2019, a newly described coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, emerged in China, causing a sometimes-
fatal disease now called COVID-19. The virus is highly contagious and generally spreads
through close contact with someone already infected, primarily through respiratory droplets from
a cough or sneeze that can travel up to six feet.
Smaller aerosolized droplets from talking or singing that remain airborne much longer and travel
farther also contribute to spread. In hospitals, procedures such as suctioning and endotracheal
intubation of COVID-19 patients generate contaminated aerosols that can infect hospital

.
personnel. Inhalation draws the virus into the mouth, nose, and airways, where it enters cells and
reproduces in
large numbers. Airborne droplets also settle onto surfaces where the virus can
potentially remain infectious for hours or a few days, depending on the material, temperature,
and humidity. People touching contaminated surfaces can transfer the virus to their mouth, nose,
or eyes or to another person through close contact, including shaking hands. The extent to which
contaminated surfaces enable spread of the virus is not known but probably varies with specific
circumstances. Although data are still limited for COVID-19, experience with
other viral illnesses – including those caused by coronaviruses –suggests the risk of infection
with SARS-CoV-2 and the severity of illness are both likely to be increased by a higher viral
load in the initial exposure.
ATTEMPTS TO LIMIT INFECTIONS DURING THE
PANDEMIC
In addition to widespread lockdown of all but essential businesses and services, the pandemic
has led to major changes in health care practices and procedures, including temporary closure of
many outpatient facilities, cancellation or delay of non-urgent surgeries, adjustments to staffing
patterns, changes in building design and ventilation, increased cleaning and disinfection, and
widespread use of personal protective equipment. Some health care facilities are asking suppliers
for furnishings and building products impregnated with antimicrobials – particularly on
frequently touched surfaces – with the hope that this will reduce contamination with the
coronavirus and other microbes and the
incidence of health care-associated infections. Some product manufacturers have also started
promoting items with antimicrobial properties during the pandemic. While these responses are
understandable, their goals, effectiveness, and potential risks should be weighed before making
product design and purchasing
decisions, particularly those with long-term consequences.

2.1.1 Modes of transmission

Contact transmission

.
Microorganisms can be transferred from an infected person to someone else directly or via an
intermediate person or object. For example, a health care worker may develop an infection after
direct contact with infected blood or other body fluid from a patient. Alternatively, a health care
worker may transfer a hand-borne infectious agent to a patient during patient care. Indirect
transmission involves the transfer of an infectious.

Droplet transmission

Respiratory droplets containing infectious agents are produced when an infected person coughs,
sneezes, or talks, as well as during various procedures such as suctioning, endotracheal
intubation, cough induction for respiratory therapy, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Generally
these droplets are transported over relatively short distances (e.g., 3-6 feet) and may be deposited
on nearby surfaces or directly contact a nearby person.

Airborne transmission
Airborne transmission occurs by inhalation of airborne aerosols or small particles containing
infectious agents that remain infective over time and distance—e.g.,
spores of some fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Air currents carrying these agents may be
dispersed over fairly long distances and inhaled by people who
have not been in contact or even in the same room with the infected person. The extent to which
MERS CoV and some other viruses can be transmitted in this
way is uncertain but likely over a distance of 3-6 feet, although it may be longer if the patient
with infection is undergoing an aerosol-generating procedure like
endotracheal intubation.

Fecal-oral transmission
Fecal-oral transmission involves microorganisms that infect the gastrointestinal system.
Improper hygiene and sanitation practices can result in food or water

.
contamination or deposition of pathogens on surfaces touched by other patients or health care
workers. Vector-borne transmission
Examples of vectors are flies, mites, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, or rodents that harbor infectious
agents that can be responsible for serious diseases. Many years ago typhus, for example, a louse-
borne rickettsial disease, was a serious HAI in health care facilities. Fumigation and disinfection
or burning of infested clothing were used in response.

CHAPTER 3

3.0 ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT AND MICROBIAL DESTRUCTION

3.1 Characteristics of Antimicrobial textile includes

 Less prone to offensive odor

 Discoloration
 Deteriorating mechanical properties are uncommon
 They can be used as cheap materials for production of hospital gowns, hand gloves and
face masks for containing microorganism borne diseases, such as the current Covid-19
pandemic.

3.2 Mechanism of destruction

mechanism of antimicrobial activities of treated textiles is

yet to be clearly defined, but in most cases, antimicrobial action of treated textiles
usually occurs through interaction of cation on antimicrobial agents with anionic
charged microbial cell wall.

- The treatment of fibres are implemented to modify their surfaces for combating
microorganisms when in contact with them, not only that, the chemical finishing also form bonds
with textiles matrix. Silver compounds/composites and quartenary ammonium compounds are
the commonly used before but they are of high cost and environmental implications, this made
researchers to look for low cost reagent. The reagents reported for this purpose are chitosan,
natural and synthetic dyes.
How these reagents perform their roles as antimicrobial agents on textile are fully discussed

.
below.
3.3 Activities of Antimicrobial agent on textiles

3.3.1 Silver compounds/composites

The usage of silver as an antimicrobial agents exist in different form such form of chloride, nano-particle,
organosilver or composite, all this can be used as antimicrobial agent for textile material. The application
of this on natural textiles can be done either by intruding the natural polymer in the antimicrobial solution
or done during dyeing operation. In dealing with silver compounds/composites triple actions activities is
needed to perform three action just to stabilize the matrix by serving as stabilizing agent e.g propylene
glycol, silica, sodium salt of alkyl sulfate, polyethylamine, dendrimers, any of the stabilizing agents
introduced to the antimicrobial textile performs triple function, Foremost it pre-vents
precipitation/agglomeration of the antimicrobial agent in solution. Polymeric stabilizing agents form
silver–polymer giant molecules that enhance performance of antimicrobial agent in natural textile
substrates and lastly, it reduces probability of Ag+ bleeding out from textile .

3.3.1.1How it works?

Although the manner of how silver operate textiles is not clearly understood but it is believed that the
silver polymer complex in the textile or the surface released Ag + which is then drawn by the anionic
microbial cells in which when in contact with them hinders activities of microbial agents and
finally destroys them in just a contact within few minutes.. Although, silver radical (Ag*) may be
formed along with Ag+ released from silver–polymer complex or formed separately instead of
the release of Ag+. When in contact with microorganisms, Ag* attacks microbial cell’s protein
structure, destroys it and kills the microorganisms. Silver polymer complex can be applied on
textiles using different techniques, the one applied through pad-dry, spray, coating or foam
techniques may not be active after few laundry operations, but the one through exhaustion in
natural substrates are always still actives even after 45 cycles of laundry operations. But as the
Ag+/Ag* from silver–polymer complex is being released its esulted into reduction in quantity of
available silver in the functional textiles.

3.3.1.2Uses and there production

We see the function of this antimicrobial agents everywhere insomuch that they are used in
the production of cloths for
 Active underwear garment

.
  Socks and sportswear.
 They are equally useful in production of antimicrobial cloths for medical applications,
such as towel, wound dressing, mattresses spread sheet and pillow case.

3.3.1.3Stabilization of silver nanoparticles

Silver Nanoparticles is another silver compounds for inducing antimicrobials characteristics

on textiles substrates, infact from my research they induced exceptional characteristics on
textiles substrates above others, when being stabilized by silver matrix, which will go within the
silver nanoparticles to hold it with a weak physical forces, this is shown(Figure 1) this makes the
release of Ag+ for attacking microorganism gradual for a long period of time.
3.3.1.4 Modifications of silver nanoparticles to contains COVID-19

Silver nanoparticles can be modified by making films of antimicrobial

properties with silver nanoparticles and fluoroalkyl siloxane(FAS),
applications of this film prepared from mixture of both finds there usefulness
after being induced on textiles substrates in producing medical applications
and home textile because it induced in textiles a better antimicrobial
functional property.
3.3.1.4 Failures of silver composites/compounds

Silver containing substances are of high cost, so this makes researchers to be looking for low
cost and effective alternative, though a low cost but yet can still meet up with the functional
characteristics of textiles in combating microbes.

.
Figure 1 silver nanoparticles and silica matrixes

3.3.2 Quaternary ammonium compounds

A thin film of about 10nm thickness containing an organic-inorganic gel network structure of
quartenary ammonium compounds is applied on the surface of the textiles through pad-dry-cure
in a continuous liquid phase version. The mode of application is called sol-gel chemistry.
Quaternary ammonium compounds (Figure 2) are applied to textile substrates as antimicrobial agents
through sol–gel chemistry, the thin nano-composite of quaternary ammonium compound film is links
totextile substrate through covalent bond.

.
FIGURE 3 Propyldimethyloctadecylammonium chloro silicone pad-dry-cured textile substrate

FIGURE2 Trimethylsilyl-propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride.

.
3.3.2.1 how it works?

The covalent bond formed imparts excellent durability to the textile through strong bond of
attraction between the antimicrobial thin film and textile substrate. It also gives controlled action
of cationic quaternary ammonium compound against anionic microorganism when in contact
with textile surface, it works just like the silver nanoparticles whereby the cationic charge on the
antimicrobial agent formed complex with anionic charged microbial cell membrane, and thereby
destroying them. Quaternary ammonium compound treated cloths are equally useful for medical
and domestic applications such as towel, wound dressing, spread sheet, pillow case, mattresses
and window blind.

3.3.2.2 Modifications of Quartenary ammonium for COVID’19 usage

Combinations of quartenary ammonium compounds with flouroalkyl siloxane has shown a

very great application in combating microbes in textiles by imparting oleophobic and super
hydrophobic properties to the textiles which thereby lowers the surfaces energy of the textiles,
thereby lowering the tendency of microbes adhesion to the textile substrates.

3.3.3 Chitosan

Chitosan (2-amino-2-deoxy- (1, 4)-𝛽-D-glucopyranan) is a product of partial deacetylation

reaction of chitin (Figure 5) obtained from shell of snails, crayfish, lobsters, cuttlefish, fungi cell
walls, crabs and shrimps. It is most abundant natural polymer after cellulose. Chitosan is a
polysaccharide with molecular structure similar to cellulose, apart from presence of nitrogen in
its structure

Chitosan has distinctive properties, such as antimicrobial activity, biodegradabil-ity, non-

toxicity, solubility in both mineral and organic acids. These properties account for its usability as
antimicrobial agent in textile production. Just like in Ag+, the mechanism of its antimicrobial
activities is not clearly understood. Although, it is generally believed that interaction of
positively charged chitosan amino group with negatively charged cell membrane of
microorganism leads to inhibition of microbial growth and eventually results into their death.
Antimicrobial activity of chitosan can also be through binding of microbial DNA by chitosan,
which results into microbial cell protein synthesis inhibition. Microorganisms’ inability to

.
biosynthesize protein in chitosan environment leads to their death.
Chitosan can be applied onto textile fibers through exhaustion process and made crosslinked
giant molecule in fiber matrix through curing process (other possible mode of applications are
pad-dry, pad-dry-steam and pad-batch). It is first dissolved in acidic medium (of a known
concentration) by introduction of a known weight of biopolymer in glacial acetic acid (known
volume and concentration) for 1 h (ripening time) and the mixture stirred mechanically for 2 h
for complete dissolu-tion of chitosan. If the curing process will be through radiation, a known
quantity of photoinitiator will be added and required volume will be made through addition of
distilled water. But if curing process will be through thermal, required volume of distilled water
will be added without addition of photoinitiator. Textile fiber will then be inserted into the
prepared chitosan solution to be coated through exhaustion process, followed by drying at 70°C
for about 1 h and cured for 30 min in presence of ultraviolet radiation (for photo chitosan cured
fibers) or at 170°C (for thermally cured fibers-chitosan). During the curing process chitosan
enters into fiber matrix in linear biopolymer form and undergoes crosslinking reaction. The
curing process makes the treated fibers durable, even after several laundry operations
Like in the case of quaternary ammonium compounds, functional antimicrobial. property of
mixture of chitosan and silver nanoparticles has been reported by researchers to be better than
that of individual agent. Therefore, coating textile fibers with mixture of chitosan and silver
nanoparticles imparts very good antimi-crobial property onto them. Chitosan or chitosan/Ag+
coated textile materials are very good as surgical garments, gloves and face masks. As a matter
of fact, textile materials made of these antimicrobial agents are going to be good wears for
Covid-19 front line workers and general populace to combat the current pandemic virus.

.
FIGURE4 Antimicrobial mixtures on cellulosic fibres

FIGURE5 Deacetylation of chittin

3.3.4 Synthetic dyes

These are developed in laboratory, from existing natural coloring materials to alleviate demerits
fund in natural dyes/pigments. Some of the demerits of natural coloring matters are poor fastness
properties, low yield, irreproducibility, lack of uniformity and high cost. Therefore, synthetic
coloring matters are relatively cheap, reproducible and have uniform hue, very good to excellent
fastness properties and high yield [1, 8]. Previous studies reported bio-based synthetic dyes to
possess antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, anti-oxidant, anticancer, anti-malarial anti-inflam-matory
and ultraviolet protective properties

.
, These coloring matters are many and they are mostly applied onto textile fibers through
exhaustion process. Pigments are mostly applied through coating or print-ing process [8].

It was reported by researchers that many synthetic dyes (especially Schiff base dyes) have
antimicrobial property. In previous study, it was reported that synthesized novel 1, 3-bis[(furan-
2-l) methylene]thiourea functional dyed wool and cotton fabrics have above 70% anti-fungi
inhibition against Fusarium oxysporum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Cercospora
zeaemaydis fungi and moderate antibiotic property against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-
positive), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Xanthomonas axonopodis (Gram-negative) bacteria.
This study was jointly carried out at Textile and Polymer research laboratory, Department of
Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria and Industrial and Environmental
Unit, Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Fountain
University, Osogbo, Nigeria.

3.3.5 Natural dyes

Dyes are generally soluble in water and as a result, they are usually applied onto textile fibers
through exhaustion technique. Due to environmental awareness, there is interest restoration in
the use of natural dyes for coloration of textiles. Besides this major reason of their application on
textiles, many of them do impart antimicrobial property onto the textiles. The way and manner of
their antimicrobial activity on textile fibers has not been clearly defined. Although, it was
reported by Soares et al. that antimicrobial active compounds in dyes are phenolics, terpenoids
and anthraquinones. The cationic charge on these com-pounds interacts with anionic charged
microbial cell wall to resist cell growth and facilitate microbial death.
Poor fastness properties that are associated with natural dye dyed fibers are usually overcome
through the use of metal salts or compounds as mordant. If metal salt like silver nitrate is used as
mordant prior to dyeing of textile material with natural dye, dual enrichment given to the dye on
fiber matrix are formation of covalent bond between dye molecule-metal ions and fiber matrix
and antimicrobial property enhancement of the natural dye dyed fibers. If natural mordant like
chitosan solution is used as mordant prior to dyeing process of the fiber, amino cationic charge
on chitosan boosts antimicrobial property of the dye through deg-radation of proteineous
microbial cell wall of microorganism. It equally enhances color strength of the dyed fibers [3].
Antimicrobial synergic effect of chitosan and natural dye called henna on jute fibers was studied

.
against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae by Bhuiyan et al. [3]. They reported
that chitosan mor-danted dyed fabrics have greater than 90% bacterial reduction. If chitosan is
not crosslinked in the fiber matrix, dyed fiber mordanted with chitosan may no longer durable
after the first laundry operation. Hence, natural dye dyed fibers mordanted chitosan can be used
as wound management fibers in the hospital. Whereas, those mordanted with silver compounds
are durable after several laundry operations due to their covalent bond with fibers. Therefore,
they can be used in production of under wares, socks, hospital wares, face masks etc.

3.4 Application of antimicrobial agents onto textile fibers

The antimicrobial chemical reagents can be applied onto the textile fibers through (i) exhaustion
and (ii) coating/dry pad techniques depending on interac-tion of fiber matrix with antimicrobial
agents

3.5 Antimicrobial exhaustion on textile fibers

Antimicrobial agents that chemically react with fibers are applied on fibers through this
technique. Antimicrobial natural and synthetic dyes are usually applied through this technique.
Exhaustion technique involves solubilization of antimicrobial agent in a suitable solvent,
immersion of the fibers in the solution and stirs the mixture for specific period of time at a
particular temperature. At the end of reaction period, the treated fibers will be washed under
running tap water to get rid of unattached antimicrobial molecules.

3.6 Coating/dry pad application of antimicrobial agent on textile fibers

Antimicrobial agents that cannot bind chemically with textile fibers are applied onto fibers
through coating/dry pad technique. Chitosan is a good example of antimicrobial agent that can be
applied onto fibers through this technique. A detail on this technique has been discussed in
Section 3.3.3

3.7 Fibers with inherent antimicrobial properties

.
 The fibers reported for inherent antimicrobial properties are flax, bamboo, hemp and kapok
cellulosic fibers with cationic functional group according to Soares et al. Others are wool and
chitosan fibers with amine functional groups. The cellulosic antimicrobial fibers function
through interaction of their polycationic functional group with anionic components of microbes
resulting into permeability of the microbial cell wall, which eventually leads into death of
microorganisms.
The textile fibers with amine functional group (wool and chitosan) resist microorganisms
through linkage of cationic amine group with thio group of microbial cellular enzymes, hindering
growth and activities of microorganisms and of course result into their death. Chitosan yarns
prepared through wet spinning of dilute acetic acid solubilized chitosan fibers in appropriate
alkaline coagulating bath are usually used for industrial scale production of wound bandage.
Large scale production of fabric from chitosan fibers is yet to be reported due to low mechani-cal
strength of chitosan yarn. In medical wound dressing and sutures, chitosan performs its wound
healing ability through diffusion to the site of bacterial growth, reacts with anionic function
group in bacteria and puncture the cell wall to kill the bacteria.

4.0 Conclusion

.
Treatment of textile fibers with antimicrobial agents is very essential because textile materials
are potential media for microbial growth. Microbial growth is undesirable to textiles due to
formation of offensive odor, discoloration and degradation. It also makes the textile consumers
uncomfortable and occasionally it causes skin problems. Treatment of textiles with silver
compounds/nanoparticles, quaternary ammonium compounds, chitosan, synthetic and natural
dyes or combinations of these agents alleviates textile materials from aforementioned inherent
microbial demerits. Antimicrobial functional textiles are good materials to be used in production
of surgical gowns, gloves, socks and body masks for containing microbial borne diseases like
ebola and pandemic Covid-19.

.
5.0 References

Textile World Man-Made Fibers Continue to Grow. [(accessed on 3 February 2015)].

Available online: http://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/fiber-world/2015/02/man-
made-fibers-continue-to-grow/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Emerging Infections Program—Healthcare-

associated Infections Projects. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/hai/eip/
antibiotic-use_techinfo.html Accessed Aug. 7, 2014.
2
Magill S, Edwards J, Bamberg W, Beldavs Z, et al. Multistate point-prevalence survey of
health care-associated infections. N Engl J Med. 2014; 370(13):1198-1208.
3 Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L. Guideline for Isolation
Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents
in Healthcare Settings 2007. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2007. Available
at: http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/2007IP/2007isolationPrecautions.html Accessed

4 Jabar JM Min: Effect of rate of dyeing on the fastness properties of indigo dyed cotton
fabrics. Intl Refereed Multidisciplinary J Contemporary Research 2014;2(1):43-47

5 Ferrero F, Periolatto M. Min: Antimicrobial finish of textiles by chitosan UV–curing.

Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. 2012;12:4803-481