Eco-Friendly Low Concentration Silver Nanoparticles Acquiring Cotton Textile Antifungal Activities for Pulmonary Aspergillosis Protection

Abstract

Aspergillosis is a fungal infection cause reduction or suppression of innate immune system. Occasionally silver nanoparticles showed antibacterial activity rather than anti-fungal activity. In the current paper three different shapes and concentrations of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using dextrin and starch, then applied to cotton for acquiring antifungal properties. TEM illustrates the size, shape and homogeneity of the AgNPs. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) quantified the AgNPs in the colloidal solution. Attenuated total reflection ATR/FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX) to screen the homogeneity and dispersion of the AgNPs. Different shapes (rode and triangular) of AgNPs (10-17nm) were produced using 10~5 ppm of the AgNPs. Antifungal activity towards Aspergillus Niger fungus was documented using the disc diffusion method. Cotton treated with AgNPs showed significant effective antifungal properties at lower concentrations (~10 ppm) preserving its white color compared to the higher concentrations (>100 ppm)of the AgNPs. Manufactured cotton fabrics treated with low concentrations of AgNPs were examined towards the recognition of the antifungal properties with minimal industrial footprint which may expose a novelpossibility for antifungal applications.