COMPARATIVE SUSTAINABLE ANTIBACTERIAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR TEXTILE APPLICATIONS

Autor/autori: Diana COMAN, Narcisa VRÎNCEANU, Simona OANCEA, Ioan NEAGU


Abstract: The present study is both a review regarding the newest methodologies of application of antibacterial agents on textile supports, natural and chemical, and an antithesis focusing on the comparison between well known antibacterial agents, ranging from synthetic organic compounds such as thriclosan, chitosan, quaternary ammonium compounds, polybiguanides, N-halamines, to metals such as silver. Different methodologies of application, their evaluation, as well as their advantages are presented. Regarding the antimicrobial products, the review is dealing with antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides, on one side, and natural extracts as colorants, on the other side. The immobilization of known compounds from the peptabiotic class of peptides has been recently investigated through their covalent bonding to the cellulosic and previously grafted cellulosic substrates. The number of bio-functional textiles with antimicrobial activity has increased considerably in the last decades. Subsequently, technologies of the application of the antimicrobial agents need to adapt to the medical and hygienic textiles requirements, and not only. Antimicrobial textiles with nontoxic bioactive compounds used in the bio-medical field for the purpose of addressing hygiene in clinical and sensitive environments by minimizing the conditions for microbial colonization of textiles, are presented and investigated. Natural dyes are nontoxic, biodegradable and do not cause pollution and waste water issues, and may show antimicrobial properties. Antimicrobials based on naturally-derived products have been increasingly studied, such as green walnut shells, gallnut, citrus fruit, henna, pomegranate, raspberry extract dyes applied on cellulosic, proteinic and synthetic fibers supports. The review emphasizes the idea that alternative antimicrobial agents represent a suitable substitute for classic antibiotics and demonstrates potentially broad applications in medical textiles, being entitled as sustainable methodologies. The best antimicrobial technologies for textiles should minimize potential risks while providing durable functionality and associated benefits

Keywords: antimicrobial textiles, safety protection, methods, peptides, natural dyes

 

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