title: Antimicrobial nano-silver non-woven polyethylene terephthalate fabric via an atmospheric pressure plasma deposition process.
abstract: An antimicrobial nano-silver non-woven polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric has been prepared in a three step process. The fabrics were first pretreated by depositing a layer of organosilicon thin film using an atmospheric pressure plasma system, then silver nano-particles (AgNPs) were incorporated into the fabrics by a dipping-dry process, and finally the nano-particles were covered by a second organosilicon layer of 10-50 nm, which acts as a barrier layer. Different surface characterization techniques like SEM and XPS have been implemented to study the morphology and the chemical composition of the nano-silver fabrics. Based on these techniques, a uniform immobilization of AgNPs in the PET matrix has been observed. The antimicrobial activity of the treated fabrics has also been tested using P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and C. albicans. It reveals that the thickness of the barrier layer has a strong effect on the bacterial reduction of the fabrics. The durability and stability of the AgNPs on the fabrics has also been investigated in a washing process. By doing so, it is confirmed that the barrier layer can effectively prevent the release of AgNPs and that the thickness of the barrier layer is an important parameter to control the silver ions release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41B4, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Xiaolong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41B4, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anton Yu
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Nikiforov
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Ghent University, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coenye
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41B4, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cools
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41B4, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gaelle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41B4, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rino
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morent
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41B4, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Geyter
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41B4, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leys
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010949:Plasma; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013784:Textiles
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D012834:Silver