Preparation of cellulose-based wipes treated with antimicrobial and antiviral silver nanoparticles as novel effective high-performance coronavirus fighter

Abstract

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). We succeeded in preparing disinfectant cellulose-based wipes treated with antimicrobial and antiviral silver nanoparticles to be used for prevention of contamination and transmission of several pathogenic viruses and microbes to human in critical areas such as hospitals and healthcare centers especially coronavirus. In this work, the antimicrobial and antiviral activities of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) prepared with four different techniques were investigated for the utilization as a disinfectant for cellulose-based wipes. These four methods are namely; 1) trisodium citrate with cotton yarn as a reducing agent, 2) preparing AgNP's using aqueous solution of PVA in the presence of glucose, 3) trisodium citrate with cotton fabric as a reducing agent, and 4) photochemical reaction of polyacrylic acid and silver nitrate solution. Polyester/viscose blended spunlace nonwoven fabrics as cellulose based fabrics were treated with the prepared silver nanoparticles to be used as surfaces disinfection wipes. The properties of the nonwoven fabrics were examined including thickness, tensile strength in dry and wet conditions in both machine direction (MD) and cross-machine direction (CMD), bursting strength, air permeability, water permeability and surface wettability. Characterization of the AgNPs was carried out in terms of UV-VIS spectroscopy, TEM, SEM, and Zeta potential analysis. The assessment of AgNPs active solutions for antimicrobial and antiviral activities was evaluated. The results obtained from the analyses of the AgNPs samples prepared with different techniques showed good uniformity and stability of the particles, as well uniform coating of the AgNPs on the fibers. Additionally, there is a significant effect of the AgNPs preparation method on their disinfectant performance that proved its effectiveness against coronavirus (MERS-CoV), S. aureus and B. subtilis as Gram-positive bacteria, E. coli and P. mirabilis as Gram-negative bacteria, A. niger and C. albicans fungi.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity; Antiviral activity; MERS-CoV; Silver nanoparticles; Surface disinfection; Wet cellulosic based wipes.

Fig. 1

Yarns and fabrics lab scale dyeing and finishing units.

Scheme 1

Preparation of silver nanoparticles via reduction of silver nitrate by poly vinyl alcohol in the presence of glucose.

Fig. 2

Preparation of silver nanoparticles with broad-band UV lamp.

Fig. 3

The prepared silver nanoparticles samples with different colors.

Fig. 4

Individual packages of the wet wipes loaded with the silver nanoparticles.

Fig. 5

UV–vis spectra of the silver nanoparticles samples.

Fig. 6

TEM images of the AgNPs samples.

Fig. 7

AgNPs samples size distribution.

Fig. 8

SEM images of the wipes nonwoven fabric, A) blank spunlace wipe fabric, the treated wipe fabric samples S1, S2, S3& S4, and B) sample S4 at 8000×.

Fig. 9

MTT cytotoxicity assay of the prepared AgNPs samples in the form of growth inhibition curves.

Fig. 10

Antimicrobial activity expressed in inhibition zone of silver nanoparticles prepared via different method (S1, S2, S3, S4) against Gram positive bacteria (a), Gram negative bacteria (b) and fungi (c).

Fig. 11

Antimicrobial and antiviral winter sweater made of cotton yarns treated with AgNPs.