Antibacterial evaluation of activated carbon cloth with Ag+ impregnated with ZnO nanoparticles
Research Journal of Textile and Apparel
ISSN: 1560-6074
Article publication date: 8 July 2019
Issue publication date: 21 August 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) are among the pathogens detected during Hajj pilgrimage known to cause pneumonia. This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of activated carbon cloth (ACC) with Ag+ impregnated with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) against these pathogens.
Design/methodology/approach
ZnO NPs were impregnated into ACC-Ag+ via layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the fine surface morphological details of the ACC-Ag+-ZnO sheets. Antibacterial activity of the ACC-Ag+-ZnO sheets was evaluated using the disk-diffusion susceptibility assay. Allergy patch test was done to evaluate allergic reactions of the ACC-Ag+-ZnO sheets on human skin.
Findings
SEM micrographs showed successful impregnation of ZnO NPs into the ACC-Ag+ sheets. Disk-diffusion susceptibility assay results of ACC-Ag+-ZnO sheets against S. aureus, K. pneumoniae and S. pneumoniae showed good antibacterial activity; with 1.82 ± 0.13 mm zone of inhibition for S. pneumoniae, at a ZnO concentration of 0.78 mg mL-1. No signs of human skin irritation were observed throughout the allergy patch test.
Originality/value
Results indicate that ACC-Ag+-ZnO sheets could potentially be embedded within surgical face masks (pilgrims’ preferred) to reduce the risks involved with the transmission of respiratory tract infections during and after mass gatherings (e.g. Hajj/Umrah, Olympics).
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) of Malaysia under the Long-term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS), Grant no. LRGS/2012/RR026. The authors are also grateful to the Hajj Research Cluster at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Dr. Norazura Mohamad (Dermatology Department, Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah), Ahmad Faizzul B. Md. Hasan and Azlina Bt. Mamat for their continuous support.
Conflict of interest: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
Citation
Sharifuddin, S.A.B., Ismail, S.B., Abdullah, I., Mohamad, I. and Shaikh Mohammed, J. (2019), "Antibacterial evaluation of activated carbon cloth with Ag+ impregnated with ZnO nanoparticles", Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 232-243. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-09-2018-0056
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited