Antifungal and consolidation properties of linen textiles treated with silver nanoparticles loaded on hydroxypropyl cellulose polymer

Abstract

Microorganisms are considered one of the most dangerous deterioration factors to cellulosic textiles, especially textiles made of linen fibers. Many of the traditional methods of resistance to microorganisms that infect textiles were used in the past, but they were of low effectiveness and high toxicity for those who applied these methods. The study used silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) prepared by the chemical reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) in the presence of a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer as a stabilizing agent in inhibiting fungal strains Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma sp. and Penicillium duclauxii that were isolated from the ancient linen piece No. 1345 preserved in the Sohag National Museum. The properties of the silver nanoparticles prepared and loaded on hydroxypropyl cellulose (Klucel G 1%) polymer were studied by many of examination and analysis methods such as TEM, XRD and FTIR. Evaluating the effectiveness of AgNPs/Klucel G by using well-cut diffusion technique revealed that the best concentration of AgNPs in inhibiting fungal strains is 3%. The results of treating raw and dyed linen textiles using AgNPs/Klucel G also indicated an improvement in the mechanical and chemical properties of the treated textiles. One of the most important results of the study is obtaining raw and dyed linen textiles with resistant properties to isolated fungal strains up to 3 months of treatment. Graphical Abstract