Abstract

This study reports the green synthesis of silver nano/microparticles (SN/M), its application in pineapple
(Ananas comosus) polyester fabric as SN/M chitosan composite (SN/M-C), and its antibacterial activity. SN/M
were prepared using leaf extracts of mango (Mangifera indica) and star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito) and
were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The SN/M
were combined with chitosan and was applied to the fabric. The SN/M-C treated fabrics were evaluated for
antibacterial activity by parallel streak assay. SEM analysis showed the smallest particles were produced using
mango leaf extracts with size range of 37-138 nm. EDX analysis revealed an absorption peak at approximately
3 keV, characteristic of metallic nanocrystals. The result of parallel streak assay showed that SN/M-C treated
fabrics inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, and the antibacterial property was still observed after five
washing. The results indicate that SN/M-C could be a potentially useful textile finishing to impart antibacterial
properties to natural fiber polyester blend fabric.