Today, consumers are well aware of
the functional protection properties
of textiles, in addition to their aesthetic appearance. The use of
nanoparticles for specialty finishing is an emerging area in textile
processing and engineering. With the advancement in technology, it
is possible to fabricate nanoparticles of the desired size and shape
with various functional properties. Reports are available on the use
of nanoparticles for antimicrobial, UV protection, flame retardant,
and hydrophilic and hydrophobic finishes on textiles. Pathogens are
a potential threat to humans and also gaining resistance to conventional
antimicrobial agents. Thus, it is needed to find new and sustainable
antimicrobial formulations. Metal nanoparticles have the potential
ability to penetrate and destroy the cell membrane structure and eventually
cause cell death. The nano-finished textiles could find various medical
and hygienic applications. This review discusses recent research attempts
to impart antimicrobial finishes to textiles using metal nanoparticles,
focusing on the action of microbes on textiles, the synthesis and
application of nanoparticles, their antimicrobial properties, the
mechanism of action, toxicity studies, and important applications.