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SUSTAINABLE ANTIMICROBIAL FINISHING OF FABRICS USING NATURAL BIOACTIVE AGENTS - A REVIEW

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Antimicrobial textiles have gained much attention and popularity in the market and in day- to-day life during the last two decades. The textile industries continue to introduce different methods in their production to enhance the quality of their products and to satisfy their customers. Increased competition in the industry has lead to the development of different synthetic antimicrobial agents. Though these synthetic agents are used widely, they pose a threat to both the users and the environment. Taking into consideration these threatening issues, several environmental bodies have implemented rules in the use of synthetic agents. On the contrary, the natural antimicrobial agents which have less adverse effect on humans and are eco friendly, are gaining much attention. Several natural agents such as basil (active agent is eugenol), neem (active limnoids like azadirachtin, nimbinin), turmeric (curcumin), clove oil, chitosan, sercin, onion, aloevera and pomegranate have antimicrobial properties. This review paper highlights the different natural antimicrobial sources, their effect on public and the possibilities of using these agents in textiles to impart antimicrobial properties and to develop different products.
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... In contrast, natural antimicrobial compounds pose fewer risks to human health and exhibit greater environmental friendliness. Various natural substances, including turmeric (containing curcumin), neem (with active limonoids such as nimbinin and azadirachtin), basil (featuring eugenol as one of its active agents), pomegranate, onion, chitosan, aloe vera, sericin, and clove oil, are known for their antimicrobial properties [10] . ...
... In contrast, synthetic substances like quaternary ammonium compounds, triclosan, and nanosilver materials are available for the antimicrobial finishing of textiles. Notably, the production of nanoparticles is more cost-intensive compared to other synthetic options ( Table 2) [10] . ...
... Consequently, the future significance of natural antibacterial compounds derived from plant sources cannot be overstated. The preservation and protection of the natural ecosystem are essential steps towards restoring global sustainability [10] . ...
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Antimicrobial-treated textiles should exhibit efficacy against a broad spectrum of bacterial and fungal species, all while maintaining user safety with a non-toxic profile. Natural antimicrobial compounds play a vital role in textile finishing processes. The proliferation of synthetic antimicrobial agents introduces environmental and consumer safety concerns. Given these potential hazards associated with synthetic agents, the utilization of natural antimicrobial agents is gaining traction, as they tend to have fewer adverse effects on users and are more environmentally sustainable. Numerous natural antimicrobial compounds, sourced from plants such as neem, basil, turmeric, aloe vera, and clove oil, have been developed, showcasing inherent antimicrobial properties. This review article highlights the importance of incorporating bioactive components in the creation of antibacterial textile fabrics.
... Besides, other external factors, including soil, dust, sweat, and some chemical finishings, can also provide nutrients for microbial growth. On the contrary, because of their hydrophobic nature, synthetic fibers can effectively retain the microbial attack [1][2][3]. As the textiles remain in contact or close to the human body, these microorganisms can easily infect humans and cause various diseases. ...
... Therefore, there is a considerable demand for the development of eco-friendly and user-friendly antimicrobial agents which are based on natural origin. Plant-based natural sources such as roots, barks, leaves, fruits, and flowers of different plant, including tulsi, neem, aloe vera, eucalyptus, tea, pomegranate, turmeric, etc., contain antimicrobial compounds like phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, etc. [2,[6][7][8]. ...
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Antibacterial finishing of textile materials using natural resources is now a trend due to the growing concerns about infectious diseases caused by microorganisms. In this study, antibacterial finishing has been applied to cotton fabric using red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) peel extracts through microencapsulation technique using the pad-dry-cure method as well as direct application with pre-mordanting and cross-linking. The antibacterial activity of the developed cotton fabric samples was assessed against a Gram-positive and a Gram-negative bacterium. The samples treated with microcapsules showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli even after being subjected to several washing cycles which is almost identical with the sample prepared through direct application with cross-linking. However, the samples prepared with pre-mordanting showed moderate antibacterial activity against the bacterium. Experimental data ensured that the microcapsule-treated fabric sample was durable. Topographical and elemental analyses of the samples were done using a Field Emission Scanning Electron microscope, and the chemical compound and chemical bonding was investigated using FTIR spectroscopy.
... The investigations of the antimicrobial properties of various natural dyes extracted from plants have increased the variety of antimicrobial agents, contributing significantly to the production of antibacterial fabric. Natural plant extracts, such as curcumin, basil, clove oil, cyclic oligosaccharides, and sericin, and natural plants, including onion, aloe vera, and pomegranate, have shown unique antimicrobial properties [25][26][27]. Caffeic acid and quercetin as two types of material extracted from plants have also demonstrated antibacterial properties [28,29]. Natural plant extracts offer potential benefits, but they have some considerable drawbacks. ...
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... One of the modern directions is the use of "green technologies", namely the study of biologically active additives capable of influencing pathogenic microflora. There are known advancements in the design of antimicrobial textiles using natural plant extracts of neem, pomegranate, aloe vera, turmeric, cloves, etc. [4]. The main problem is the stable fixation of the applied antibacterial reagent on the surface of the textile material. ...
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The object of this study is imparting antimicrobial properties to textile materials made from natural fibers and their blends. The study is aimed at solving the problem of ensuring a prolonged antimicrobial effect of cotton-containing fabrics. The use of ZnO nanoparticles, synthesized by the simple resource-saving method, as part of polymer-colloidal finishing compositions for the fabrics finishing is proposed. The effectiveness of using synthesized ZnO to impart prolonged antibacterial properties to cotton fabrics was assessed by studying the morphology, chemical composition, and bactericidal activity of nanoparticles. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by direct precipitation method at low temperatures in a short time in an aqueous solution using zinc acetate dihydrate and sodium hydroxide as precursors. The average crystallite size calculated using the Scherrer method is 28 nm. The degree of crystallinity according to X-ray diffraction pattern is 93 %. Using scanning electron microscopy, the formation of nanoparticles of uniform size in the form of short rods was established and the successfully synthesized ZnO phase in the hexagonal wurtzite structure was confirmed. The chemical purity of the crystalline material was confirmed using energy dispersive analysis. The atomic percentages of the elements are 47.6 % and 52.4 % for Zn and O, respectively. Study of the inhibition zone around fabric disks treated with ZnO showed their high bactericidal activity against air microflora and the gram-negative bacterium P. aeruginosa. It has been established that the use of ZnO as part of a polymer-colloidal system based on the acrylic polymer ensures the resistance of bactericidal treatment to washing. The reported scientific results are of practical importance for improving the standard technological process for finishing cotton textile materials
... (i) Pad-dry-cure method: This textile finishing process is applied along with cross-linking agent, when the affinity of natural antimicrobial agents toward textile fibers is less. The antimicrobial activity here depends on the bonding affinity between cross-linking agent and textile fiber and generally tends to decrease with washing (Reshma et al. 2018). ...
... By using this plant, green colour is obtained from the leaves and brown colour from the dried leaves and bark of the tree. Azadirachta indica leaves, roots, fruits, and stems are used to manufacture anticancer, antileprotic, anti-hyperglycemia, antiallergic and anti-diabetic medications for a range of ailments; it also enhances the immune system 9,10 . ...
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Chapter
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Recently, natural products have been evaluated as sources of antimicrobial agents with efficacies against a variety of microorganisms. This study described the antibacterial and antifungal activities of pomegranate peel extract (rind), seed extract, juice and whole fruit on the selected bacteria and fungi. The peel extract has shown highest antimicrobial activity compared to other extracts. Among the selected bacterial and fungal cultures, the highest antibacterial activity was recorded against Staphylococcus aureus and among fungi high activity against Aspergillus niger was recorded.
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Chapter
The coupling of electromagnetic power into a process gas volume generates the plasma. Plasma medium comprising a dynamic mix of ions, electrons, neutrons, photons, free radicals, meta-stable excited species and molecular fragments. The system is overall being at room temperature. This allows the surface functionalization of textile and yarns without affecting their bulk properties. These species move under electromagnetic fields and diffusion gradients on the substrates placed in or passed through the plasma. This enables a variety of generic surface processes including surface activation by bond breaking, grafting of chemical moieties and functional groups, material volatilization and removal (etching), dissociation of surface contaminants/layers (cleaning/ scouring) and deposition of conformal coatings. Plasmas are acknowledged to be uniquely effective surface engineering tools. Plasma processing appears to be a promising alternative to the current textile finishing techniques, being a clean, simple and versatile process that meets increasingly strict economic and ecological demands such as shorter processing times and drastic reduction of water usage. In this chapter the effect of plasma treatment on surface modification and finishing of cotton fabrics is discussed.
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