Synthesis and characterization of neem chitosan nanocomposites for development of antimicrobial cotton textiles

Health and hygiene are the primary requirements for human beings to live comfortably and work with maximum efficiency. The present study focuses on the development of herbal chitosan nanocomposite finishes for protective clothing. The medicinal plant (Azadirachta indica) was selected, and bioactive compounds were extracted. The neem chitosan nanocomposites were prepared using multiple emulsion/ solvent evaporation method. The neem chitosan nanocomposites were finished on to 100% cotton fabrics using pad dry cure method. The antibacterial activity of the fabrics were assessed using standard AATCC 100 and 147 test methods. The neem chitosan nanocomposites treated fabrics showed an increased antimicrobial activity than the other fabric treatments (neem chitosan composite, neem, and chitosan). The scanning electron microscopic results showed that the nanocomposites were essentially spherical in the size range of 50-100nm.