Investigation of Antibacterial Properties of Nano-ZnO Assembled Cotton Fibers

Nano-ZnO assembled cotton fibers (NZCF) with excellent antibacterial properties were fabricated using a microwave synthesis method. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of various parameters, including ZnO size, ZnO content, assembly times, microwave power, and Zn2+ concentration in the synthesis solution, on the antibacterial activity of NZCF through bacteriological tests such as the Petri dish and agar diffusion methods. The results revealed that NZCF exhibited significant antibacterial effects, with an antibacterial circle width (ACW) ranging from 1.5 to 2.3 mm against Escherichia coli (E. coli, gram-positive organism) and 2.3 to 3.4 mm against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, gram-negative organism). Furthermore, it was found that the antibacterial activity of NZCF increased as the ZnO size decreased, the ZnO content in NZCF increased, and the Zn2+ concentration in the synthesis solution rose. This study highlights the potential of NZCF as an effective antibacterial textile material.