Functional finishing of health care cotton for enhanced efficiency of antibacterial activity by chitosan and herbal nanocomposites

Abstract To enhance the efficiency of biological, chemical and physical properties like antibacterial activity, wash durability, air-permeability and biocompatibility of cotton fabric finished with chitosan and herbal nanocomposites. Extracts of Cassia angustifolia and Tamarindus indica with chitosan solution was bulk finished on 40s cotton fabrics. To increase the functional properties, chitosan and herbal extract nanocomposites were finished on to another set of fabrics (nanocomposite finishing). Different functional properties were carried out for both the sets of fabrics and comparatively analyzed. Antibacterial activity, physical properties and biocompatible properties of the finished fabric were determined. Antibacterial activity of nanocomposite finished fabrics showed inhibitory zones of 33 mm for E. coli and 31.6 mm for S. aureus. Nanocomposite finished fabrics showed good durable properties and physical properties than bulk finished fabrics. The study concludes that, nanocomposites could provide better functional properties than the bulk finished fabrics. The nano sized particles in the composites was considered significant for its functional applications in hospital based fabrics to prevent the transmission of nosocomial infections.