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demand for sophisticated fabrics with special features and exceptional comfort drives
the need for the use of nanotechnology in this industry. More and more companies are
utilizing nanoadditives in order to enhance the surface characteristics of clothes such
as water/stain-resistance, UV-protection, wrinkle resistance, color durability, flame
retardancy, and better thermal performance.
So, how can these tiny silver nanoparticles can destroy microbial colonies and at
the same time preventing odor in our clothes? Fabrics containing engineered
nanosilver is used to kill odor causing bacteria in clothes, especially in athletic
clothing. Bacteria, approximately 1000 nanometers in size, use enzymes to metabolize
nutrients and create energy in a similar fashion as any other living organisms. They
are unicellular with only one compartment of protein, which stores all the elements of
the cell. Thus, in order to stop the exponential rate of bacterial replication, it is
necessary to disrupt the bacterial enzymes and energy metabolism.
To counter bacterial growth, the textile industry first inserts silver nanoparticles
into its products in order to allow the particles to attach to the filaments. Once the
silver nanoparticles encounter sweat from the human body or any other source of
moisture, they naturally release a low concentration of positively charged silver ions
into the moist environment that destroys bacterial cells. Silver ions disrupt the
underlying means of bacterial survival by blocking some of the bacterial enzymes
responsible for energy metabolism and electrolyte transport. The lack of enzyme
activity ultimately suffocates the bacteria. The nanosilver when in contact with
bacteria and fungus will adversely affect cellular metabolism and inhibit cell growth.
The nanosilver suppresses respiration, basal metabolism of electron transfer system,
and transport of substrate in the microbial cell membrane. The nanosilver also inhibits
multiplication and growth of those bacteria and fungi which is the cause for infection,
itchiness and even sores by disrupting their DNA backbone.
Finally, silver ions bind to the bacterial cell wall to weaken the protection and
structure of the cell, thereby creating structural imperfections within the cell's
protective layers and speeding the collapse or burst of the bacteria. Therefore, by
targeting these three areas, silver ions prevent bacteria proliferation by establishing a
defense system, slowing bacterial growth, and eventually killing them. Unlike
traditional antibiotics, which only concentrate on one of the pathways that kill
bacteria, silver ions attack microbes in three different pathways: respiration,
replication, and cell wall synthesis.