Green In-situ Synthesis of AgNPs and Myristic Acid Coating for Antibacterial and Hydrophobic Functionalization of Naturally Dyed Cotton Fabrics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2026.13182Keywords:
Cotton, Hydrophobic surface, Antibacterial, Natural dye, Green processAbstract
Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has drawn increasing attention for antibacterial surface applications. However, integrating additional functionalities, such as hydrophobicity, may affect antibacterial performance. In this study, AgNPs were synthesized in situ on cotton substrates using bamboo leaf extract as an eco-friendly reducing agent, followed by hydrophobic surface modification with naturally derived organic acids. The AgNPs coating and surface modification of the cotton were confirmed by SEM-EDX, XPS, and FTIR spectroscopy. The prepared AgNP-coated cotton exhibited effective antibacterial activity against both Streptococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with inhibition zones ranging from 12.0 to 13.5 mm. While hydrophobic treatment significantly increased water contact angles up to 148°, indicating enhanced surface repellency. Notably, a reduction in antibacterial performance was observed after hydrophobic modification, suggesting a functional trade-off associated with altered surface accessibility and ion diffusion. These results highlight an important design consideration for multifunctional antibacterial surfaces prepared via green synthesis routes, emphasizing the need to balance antibacterial efficacy and surface engineering strategies.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Green in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was applied to functionalize naturally dyed cotton fabrics using Ceriops tagal
- The treated cotton exhibited antibacterial activity against aureus and E. coli and high hydrophobicity after myristic acid coating.
- A clear trade-off between antibacterial performance and hydrophobicity was identified for textile end-use applications.
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