ALLICIN-CONJUGATED NANOCELLULOSE AS A FINISHING FOR IMPARTING ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES TO POLYESTER AND CELLULOSE-POLYESTER FABRICS

The use of antimicrobial agents on fabrics has a very long history. Although several classes of antimicrobial agents (such as phenols, halogens, quaternary ammonium salts and metal salts) have been developed for textiles, most of them are toxic. The aim of our study was to treat polyester and cellulose-polyester fabrics with allicinconjugated nanocellulose. These fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antibacterial ability of treated fabrics was also determined by AATCC method 1001993. The results showed both treated fabrics had significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. It can be concluded that allicin-conjugated nanocellulose can be attached to polyester and cellulose-polyester fabrics to create a stable antibacterial property. The use of antimicrobial agents on fabrics has been started from centuries ago. In recent years, antimicrobial textiles have gained much more attention from both academic researchers and textile industries. Self-sterilizing fabrics have potential benefits to reduce diseases which transfer among hospital populations and other groups [1, 2]. It has long been known that microorganisms can grow on textiles and fabrics. They provide an excellent medium for transfer and propagation of infectioncausing microbial species due to their characteristics and proximity to the person's body [3]. Fabrics made from natural fibers are more suitable for growth of microorganisms than synthetic fibers, because their hydrophilic structure keeps water, oxygen, and nutrients. They provide a perfect environment for bacterial growth. A way to prevent microbial degradation of fabrics, limit the occurrence of bacteria, and protect microbial agents, is the treatment of the fabric with antimicrobial compounds. Different classes of antimicrobial agents have been developed for textiles, such as phenols, halogens, quaternary ammonium salts and metal salts. These materials are toxic and allergenic, and cannot be used for long periods. There are many ways by which antimicrobial properties can be imparted to textiles, including interpolation of antimicrobial agents directly into fibers, adsorption of antimicrobials onto fiber surfaces, immobilization of antimicrobials on fibers by ion or covalent linkages, etc. [4] Some non-toxic natural products can inhibit the growth of microorganisms and can be considered for use in textiles [5]. For example, Garlic (Allium sativum) is able to inhibit not only bacteria, but also fungi and viruses [6]. Allicin [S-(2-propenyl) 2-propene-1-sulfinothioate], which is one of the active ingredients of freshly-crushed garlic homogenates, is a natural antimicrobial agent. Moreover, it is anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogen, anti-inflammatory, anti-genotoxic, immuno-modulatory and anti-thrombotic[7]. Allicin is a foremost component in garlic generated by the enzyme alliinase, through its action on amino acid alliin [8, 9, and 10]. Based on previous studies, allicin-conjugated nanocellulose has antimicrobial activity [11, 12]. The first aim of this study was to attach allicinconjugated nanocellulose on polyester and cellulose-polyester fabrics. The next purpose of this study was to evaluate their antibacterial property. In this study cellulose, N-ethyl-N-(dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and Aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES), nitric acid, sulfuric acid, amine allicin, sodium hydroxide, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were used.