Ag NP-Loaded Cotton Fiber Materials: Preparation, Surface Deposition, and Antibacterial Activity with Different Chemical Structures

An amino-substituted bis(aryldiazomethane) was synthesized and used to modify cotton fibers by a carbene insertion reaction. A subsequent amidation of the modified cotton fibers introduced thioether groups onto the surface. Thus, three different types of cotton fibers with hydroxyl, amine, or thioether groups were expected to bind silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy to show the surface morphology, as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis to quantify the loading of Ag NPs. A bioassay experiment showed antibacterial activity of the modified cotton fibers. The development of these antibacterial cotton fibers not only gave a clear and deep comparison of different silver-binding approaches but also had potential industrial and daily applications for medical textiles.