Bi2MoO6 and Ag nanoparticles immobilized on textile by plasma-derived innovative techniques to generate antimicrobial activity

In this study, we expose various techniques based on cold plasma discharge (CPD), and more precisely aqueous-phase plasma-aided grafting (APPAG), to efficiently modify the surface of polymers as well as fabric made of natural fibers. Several directions were investigated to ultimately add a functional coating providing an antimicrobial effect to textiles. Our strategy relies on the immobilization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Bi2MoO6 (BMO) – a robust inorganic photocatalyst that can be activated by visible light – microflowers, at the surface of cotton fabric fibers. Notably, an in situ complexation-assisted precipitation route (ISCAP – an original method derived from CPD) was successfully employed to generate a very uniform coating of silver nanoparticles at the surface of organic substrates. As we demonstrate in this study, the surface functionalization with BMO and silver provides a significant protection against bacteria in dark conditions, through a bacteriostatic effect of nano silver, and under low-intensity artificial visible light (thanks to the photocatalytic effect of BMO/Ag), hence suitable for an indoor environment such as hospitals. Our composite nanomaterial, cotton/BMO/AgNPs, was assessed through antibacterial testing with Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. Aureus), showing a pronounced antimicrobial effect with both strains. This study opens prospects for the functionalization of natural or artificial fiber materials with possible applications in the field of biomedical protective equipment such as bandages, masks or technical cloths; or even photocatalysis.