Ascorbic Acid as an Adjuvant to Unbleached Cotton Promotes Antimicrobial Activity in Spunlace Nonwovens

Abstract

The development of affordable, effective, and environmentally friendly barrier fabrics is a current goal in antimicrobial textile development. The discovery of new routes to achieve non-toxic naturally occurring molecules with antimicrobial activity is of interest in the development of materials that promote wound healing, improve hygiene, and offer protection against nosocomial infection. Highly cleaned and sterile unbleached cotton has constituents that produce hydrogen peroxide at levels commensurate with those that favor cell signaling in wound healing. Here, we show the antimicrobial and antiviral properties of spunlaced griege cotton-containing nonwovens treated with ascorbic acid formulations. The mechanism of action occurs through the promotion of enhanced hydrogen peroxide activity. The levels of hydrogen peroxide activity afford antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and antiviral activity against MS2 bacteriophages. Spun-bond nonwoven unbleached cotton was treated with ascorbic acid using traditional pad-dry-cure methods. An assessment of antibacterial and antiviral activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and MS2 bacteriophages with the AATCC 100 test method showed a 99.99% inhibitory activity. An approach to the covalent attachment of ascorbic to cellulose through citric acid crosslinking chemistry is also discussed. Thus, a simple, low-cost approach to antimicrobial and antiviral cotton-based nonwovens applicable to dressings, nosocomial barrier fabrics, and face masks can be adopted by combining ascorbic acid with spunlace greige cotton nonwoven fabrics.

Preparation and Activity of Hemostatic and Antibacterial Dressings with Greige Cotton/Zeolite Formularies Having Silver and Ascorbic Acid Finishes

“…On the other hand, the AgTGz, while demonstrating some hydrogen peroxide generation, is believed to have multiple modes of action such as the interaction of its embedded silver nanoparticles and their release to interact extra-and intra-cellularly [23,29,30]. In this regard, it is interesting that the levels of hydrogen peroxide produced per gram of fabric are consistent with the antibacterial results shown in Table 2, and to some extent with previous studies, in so much as the levels observed are associated with robust antimicrobial activity [25]. 1.…”

“…These employed traditional finishing chemistry treatments utilizing the pad-dry-cure methodology. Unbleached nonwoven cotton-based fabric finishes with free ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid attached through crosslinking to cellulose in the dressing fiber matrix have been previously shown to be effective against Gram-negative and -positive bacteria [25]. Silver nanoparticle-treated fabrics have also demonstrated antibacterial barrier properties in cotton-containing nonwovens, and were also employed in this study [26,27].…”

“…The graphs in Figure 5 present the hydrogen peroxide generation of the current studied fabrics from rapid onset to 48 h sustaining levels that are within antimicrobial efficacy (See Supplementary Information for actual values/determination for each fabric in graphic form, Figures S1 and S2). Thus, hydrogen peroxide is thought to be the mode of antibacterial action for the BGz and CXTGz and the analogous ammonium zeolite formularies [25]. On the other hand, the AgTGz, while demonstrating some hydrogen peroxide generation, is believed to have multiple modes of action such as the interaction of its embedded silver nanoparticles and their release to interact extra-and intra-cellularly [23,29,30].…”

“…mularies [25]. On the other hand, the AgTGz, while demonstrating some hydrogen peroxide generation, is believed to have multiple modes of action such as the interaction of its embedded silver nanoparticles and their release to interact extra-and intra-cellularly [23,29,30].…”

Materials for Infectious Diseases

“…For prevention purposes, antimicrobial textiles containing ascorbic acid and spunlace greige cotton nonwoven fabrics were developed as affordable fabrics for producing face masks and wound dressings. These textile showed the “complete inhibition of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria activity commensurate with levels necessary for commercial use” [ 1 ]. In another work, it was shown that adding antimicrobial nanoparticles to a tissue replacement structure could result in a nanocomposite with antibacterial features.…”