Nanotechnology is a powerful tool for engineering functional materials that has the potential to transform textiles into high-performance, value-added products. In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the development of functional textiles using metal nanoparticles (MNPs). The incorporation of MNPs in textiles allows for the obtention of multifunctional properties, such as ultraviolet (UV) protection, self-cleaning, and electrical conductivity, as well as antimicrobial, antistatic, antiwrinkle, and flame retardant properties, without compromising the inherent characteristics of the textile. Environmental sustainability is also one of the main motivations in development and innovation in the textile industry. Thus, the synthesis of MNPs using ecofriendly sources, such as polysaccharides, is of high importance. The main functions of polysaccharides in these processes are the reduction and stabilization of MNPs, as well as the adhesion of MNPs onto fabrics. This review covers the major research attempts to obtain textiles with different functional properties using polysaccharides and MNPs. The main polysaccharides reported include chitosan, alginate, starch, cyclodextrins, and cellulose, with silver, zinc, copper, and titanium being the most explored MNPs. The potential applications of these functionalized textiles are also reported, and they include healthcare (wound dressing, drug release), protection (antimicrobial activity, UV protection, flame retardant), and environmental remediation (catalysts).

Depositing nanoparticles in textiles have been a promising strategy to achieve multifunctional materials. Particularly, antimicrobial properties are highly valuable due to the emergence of new pathogens and the spread of existing ones. Several methods have been used to functionalize textile materials with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Therefore, this review highlighted the most used methods for AuNPs preparation and the current studies on the topic in order to obtain AuNPs with suitable properties for antimicrobial applications and minimize the environmental concerns in their production. Reporting the detailed information on the functionalization of fabrics, yarns, and fibers with AuNPs by different methods to improve the antimicrobial properties was the central objective. The studies combining AuNPs and textile materials have opened valuable opportunities to develop antimicrobial materials for health and hygiene products, as infection control and barrier material, with improved properties. Future studies are needed to amplify the antimicrobial effect of AuNPs onto textiles and minimize the concerns related to the synthesis.

Polyester (PET) fabrics are widely applied in functional textiles due to their outstanding properties such as high strength, dimensional stability, high melting point, low cost, recyclability, and flexibility. Nevertheless, the lack of polar groups in the PET structure makes its coloration and functionalization difficult. The present work reports the one-step in situ synthesis of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) onto the PET fabric employing sodium hypophosphate and ascorbic acid as reducing and stabilizing agents, at acidic (pH 2) and alkaline pH (pH 11). This synthesis (i) used safer reagents when compared with traditional chemicals for CuNP production, (ii) was performed at a moderate temperature (85 °C), and (iii) used no protective inert gas. The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma was used as an environmentally friendly method for the surface functionalization of PET to enhance the adhesion of CuNPs. The size of the CuNPs in an alkaline reaction (76–156 nm for not treated and 93.4–123 nm for DBD plasma-treated samples) was found to be smaller than their size in acidic media (118–310 nm for not treated and 249–500 nm for DBD plasma-treated samples), where the DBD plasma treatment promoted some agglomeration. In acidic medium, metallic copper was obtained, and a reddish color became noticeable in the textile. In alkaline medium, copper­(I) oxide (Cu2O) was detected, and the PET samples exhibited a yellow color. The PET samples with CuNPs presented improved ultraviolet protection factor values. Finally, a minimal concentration of copper salt was studied to obtain the optimized antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The functionalized samples showed strong antibacterial efficacy using low-concentration solutions in the in situ synthesis (2.0 mM of copper salt) and even after five washing cycles. The DBD plasma treatment improved the antibacterial action of the samples prepared in the alkaline medium.

The functionalization of polyester fabric (PES) with antimicrobial agents presents huge number of potential applications in advanced products. However, the lack of functional groups and the high PES hydrophobicity make the functionalization processes costly, prolonged and requires the use of polluting chemicals compounds. In this work, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment, an affordable and environmental-friendly method, was used to introduce new chemical groups, increase the surface energy and roughness of PES in order to improve the adhesion of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in its surface. The PES functionalization was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and antimicrobial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Despite some additional oxidation, the DBD plasma-treated PES showed superior adhesion of AgNPs and excellent antimicrobial efficacy even after 10 washing cycles (WC).

The antimicrobial functionalization of polyester fabrics (PES) is useful to provide protection from pathogens and reducing odors. Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have been widely applied due to their antimicrobial properties and higher biocompatibility compared with other metal nanoparticles. However, the inherent instability of CuNPs under atmospheric conditions and the use of harmful chemicals during their synthesis limit their use. Thus, the development of efficient and safe methods for the CuNPs synthesis and their stabilization onto surfaces present high interest. In this work, PES was functionalized with CuNPs via in situ synthesis using cost-effective and safe chemicals in the presence and absence of chitosan. In sample without chitosan, the CuNPs showed a suitable stabilization onto PES due to the doubled stabilization of ascorbic acid (AA) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). In sample with chitosan, less CuNPs were retained by the PES but also less CuNPs agglomeration was observed. Both samples presented excellent antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) as well as laundering durability.

Laboratories and industries that handle chemicals are ubiquitously prone to leakages. These may occur in storage rooms, cabinets or even in temporary locations, such as workbenches and shelves. A relevant number of these chemicals are corrosive, thus commercial products already exist to prevent material damage and injuries. One strategy consists of the use of absorbing mats, where few display neutralizing properties, and even less a controlled neutralization. Nevertheless, to the authors’ knowledge, the commercially available neutralizing mats are solely dedicated to neutralizing acid or alkali solutions, never both. Therefore, this work describes the development and proof of a completely novel concept, where a dual component active mat (DCAM) is able to perform a controlled simultaneous neutralization of acid and alkali leakages by using microencapsulated active components. Moreover, its active components comprise food-grade ingredients, embedded in nonwoven polypropylene. The acid neutralizing mats contain sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) encapsulated in sodium alginate microcapsules (MC-ASC). Alkali neutralizing mats possess commercial encapsulated citric acid in hydrogenated palm oil (MIRCAP CT 85-H). A DCAM encompasses both MC-ASC and MIRCAP CT 85-H and was able to neutralize solutions up to 10% (v/v) of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The efficacy of the neutralization was assessed by direct titration and using pH strip measurement tests to simulate the leakages. Due to the complexity of neutralization efficacy evaluation based solely on pH value, a thorough conductivity study was performed. DCAM reduced the conductivity of HCl and NaOH (1% and 2% (v/v)) in over 70%. The composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The size of MC-ASC microcapsules ranged from 2 μm to 8 μm. Finally, all mat components displayed thermal stability above 150 °C.