Advances in padding fabrics with nanoparticles to inhibit bacterial growth have led to recent development and marketing of silver, carbon, and copper antibacterial clothing for consumers.  We examined the inhibitory effects of swatches of copper impregnated socks on cultures of gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureas in liquid broth and on agar plates.  Previous experiments in this lab have shown that carbon swatches produced no inhibition, while silver swatches demonstrated marked inhibition, depending on fabric mass.  E. coli exhibited more inhibition than S. aureas with silver, the reverse inhibition was exhibited by copper.   Estimates of fabric durability and antibacterial efficacy over time were developed through repeated rinses using a shaker bath.  Concentration of copper ion resulting from aqueous interaction with nanoparticles was quantified using ICP-MS, and bacterial counts were assessed through plate-counting and spectrophotometry.  Further investigations will explore anti-fungicidal efficacy of both copper and silver nanoparticle impregnated fabric.

Antibacterial activity of copper nanoparticles in sock fabric

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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