In the healthcare sector, infection control is a top priority, particularly in surgical settings. Surgical cotton, a critical component in wound care, has evolved to incorporate innovative antimicrobial treatments, offering enhanced protection against infections. Leading surgical cotton suppliers are increasingly focusing on combining traditional cotton manufacturing with advanced antimicrobial technologies to create safer and more effective products.
Healthcare concerns have motivated the interest for the development of multifunctional antimicrobial cotton fabrics. Moreover, cotton textiles are also used in medical applications such as wound dressings. Their functionalization with anti-inflammatory agents is desirable to accelerate cicatrisation in the treatment of chronic wounds. This review summarizes recent advances (from January 2016 to January 2021) on the modification and coating of cotton fabrics with nanostructures (mainly metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, functionalized silica nanoparticles) to provide them antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) and anti-inflammatory properties.
Why Antimicrobial Treatment Matters:
Surgical cotton is widely used in wound dressings, cleaning, and absorbing body fluids during surgical procedures. However, in its untreated form, cotton can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which may lead to post-operative infections. By incorporating antimicrobial treatments, surgical cotton gains the ability to actively inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other harmful pathogens.
Surface modification of cotton fibers with biopolymers (chitosan, starch) and other synthetic polymers to impart antimicrobial activity and overcome other limitations of this natural textile has been reported. Quaternary ammonium salts, industrial enzymes and several metal salts have also been described as agents for the development of antimicrobial textiles as well as the use of other antimicrobial products (polyhexamethylene biguanide, triclosan, N-halamine, peroxyacids, dyes). Pyrazole-based compounds have been encapsulated into liposomal chitosan emulsions for textile finishing and the treated cotton fabrics exhibited activity against gram positive and negative bacteria.
The Manufacturing Process:
Incorporating antimicrobial agents during the production of surgical cotton ensures that the fibers maintain their natural softness and absorbency while providing enhanced infection control. Advanced processes are used to treat the cotton without compromising its core qualities, making it ideal for use in wound care, surgical procedures, and even home healthcare settings.
A Step Towards Safer Healthcare:
By using antimicrobial-treated surgical cotton, healthcare providers can reduce the risk of infections in patients. This is especially crucial in high-risk environments, such as hospitals and clinics, where infection prevention is paramount. As more surgical cotton suppliers adopt these innovative treatments, they contribute to better patient outcomes and overall improved healthcare standards.
The antibacterial effects of different metal and metal oxide nanostructures on a wide range of natural and synthetic fibers has been reported.
Antimicrobial activity has been related to superhydrophobic nanomaterial coating due to synergistic effects. Thus, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles cause damages in microbes, also preventing the adhesion of the microorganisms on superhydrophobic surfaces.
Another approach to obtain antibacterial cotton fabrics was the anchoring of metallic silver nanoparticles decorated with bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr) nanosheets on carboxymethyl cotton fabric. To facilitate the nucleation of BiOBr, cotton fabric was modified through SN2 reaction of hydroxylic groups with chloroacetic acid using NaOH as base to yield the sodium carboxylates (caboxymethyl cotton fabrics, CCF). When this fabric was immersed in a Bi (NO3)3 solution, Bi2O2+ ions were absorbed by the carboxyl groups. Immersion in a KBr solution induced bromide ions to react with Bi2O2+ forming BiOBr-CCF. Silver ions from AgNO3 were absorbed by BiOBr-CCF and reduced via exposure to ultraviolet irradiation.
The integration of antimicrobial technology in surgical cotton represents a significant step forward in infection control, providing both healthcare professionals and patients with added peace of mind.
