Abstract

People�s inclination toward medical textiles for healthy life style has created a rapidly increasing market for antimicrobial textiles, which, in turn, has stimulated intensive research and development. The aim of our study was to prepare cellulose fabrics finished by allicin-conjugated nanocellulose, whose properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. The antibacterial ability of the treated fabrics was determined by AATCC test method 100�1993. The durability of antimicrobial activity to washing process was also evaluated. The results showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aurous, statistically different from negative control fabric (finished by nanocellulose without allicin) (p < 0.05). The antibacterial activity after two home laundering cycles of all finished fabrics was only slightly reduced. It can be concluded that allicin-conjugated nanocellulose can be attached to cellulose textiles by a simple conjugation method to create durable antibacterial properties. © 2014, © 2014 The Textile Institute.