The Global antibacterial textile market is estimated to grow from USD 10.7 Billon to USD 14.7 billion by 20261. Antibacterial textiles create a barrier against bacteria responsible for skin infection, producing odor and healthcare-associated infections1. Researchers are trying to develop products that are skin-friendly, cost-effective, and eco-friendly1. We have developed a nanocellulose gel-based dyeing/coating technology for cotton textiles with natural indigo, which utilizes the high surface (~103 m2/g) and fibrillary mechanism of adhesion of nanofibrillated cellulose materials2. Nanocellulose gel acts as a carrier for indigo particles, whereas chitosan (post-treatment) is a physical crosslinking agent, improving fixation and adhesion of the nanocellulose fibrillary network with indigo particles and fabrics and an antibacterial agent. The dyed fabric samples were evaluated with qualitative (AATCC test method 147) and quantitative (AATCC test method 100) methods of testing for antibacterial activity against E.coli (gram -ve) and S.aureus (gram +ve). In the qualitative test, the fabric had no bacterial colonies growth after 24 hours under the sample in the contact area with no inhibition zone, indicating that chitosan is a non-leaching antibacterial agent (Fig 1). Quantitatively the samples showed a bacterial reduction of approx. 98% and 97% reduction after 30 washes.

Antibacterial, sustainable, natural indigo dyed cotton textile

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