A review on the application of inorganic nano-structured materials in the modification of textiles: Focus on anti-microbial properties

Abstract

Textiles can provide a suitable substrate to grow micro-organisms especially at appropriate humidity and temperature in contact to human body. Recently, increasing public concern about hygiene has been driving many investigations for anti-microbial modification of textiles. However, using many anti-microbial agents has been avoided because of their possible harmful or toxic effects. Application of inorganic nano-particles and their nano-composites would be a good alternative. This review paper has focused on the properties and applications of inorganic nano-structured materials with good anti-microbial activity potential for textile modification. The discussed nano-structured anti-microbial agents include TiO₂ nano-particles, metallic and non-metallic TiO₂ nano-composites, titania nanotubes (TNTs), silver nano-particles, silver-based nano-structured materials, gold nano-particles, zinc oxide nano-particles and nano-rods, copper nano-particles, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nano-clay and its modified forms, gallium, liposomes loaded nano-particles, metallic and inorganic dendrimers nano-composite, nano-capsules and cyclodextrins containing nano-particles. This review is also concerned with the application methods for the modification of textiles using nano-structured materials.

Introduction

Parallel to immediate improvement of human living, control of harmful effects of micro-organisms would be necessary. A broad range of micro-organisms coexists in a natural equilibrium with human body and living environments, but a rapid and uncontrolled fast thriving of microbes can lead to some serious problems [1], [2], [3]. Anti-microbial agents are used to prevent three undesirable effects in textiles. The first includes the degradation phenomena like coloring, staining and deterioration of fibers [4], [5], [6]. Because of their dye degradation potential, even some fungus can be used for removing dye from textile effluent [7]. The second one produces unpleasant odor [8], [9], [10] and the third effect is the increase of potential health risks [11], [12], [13]. The conventional fibers and polymers not only show no resistance against micro-organisms and materials generated from their metabolism but also are most commonly prone to accumulation, multiplication and proliferation of micro-organisms into their surrounding environment. In fact, several factors such as suitable temperature and humidity, presence of dust, soil, spilled food and drink stains, skin dead cells, sweat and oil secretions of skin gland, also finishing materials on the textile surfaces can make textile optimal enrichment cultures for a rapid multiplication of micro-organisms [6], [14]. Regarding to rapid improvement of hygienic living standard, controlling of aforementioned terrible effect is necessary. Therefore, many researches have focused on the anti-bacterial modification of textiles [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36], [37], [38], [39], [40], [41], [42], [43], [44], [45], [46], [47], [48], [49], [50].

Recently, using natural material has been preferred for textile modification because of possible harmful or toxic effects of many chemical anti-microbial agents [51].

Application of inorganic nano-particles and their nano-composites would be a good alternative [52], [53], [54] and consequently, they can open up a new opportunity for anti-microbial and multi-functional modification of textiles. This review paper is concerned with properties and application methods of inorganic nano-structured materials with good potential of anti-microbial activity and their nano-composites for textile modification.