Durable antimicrobial activity of fabrics functionalized with zeolite ion-exchanged nanomaterials against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

Nanoparticle-based functionalization has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance the antimicrobial properties of textiles. In this study, silver (Ag + ), copper (Cu 2+ ), and zinc (Zn 2+ ) cations are ion-exchanged with Y-type zeolite (CBV-600) and subsequently applied to cotton fabrics using the pad–dry–cure method, with an acrylic resin serving as binder. The resulting functionalized fabrics, containing metal cation concentrations of 1.0–1.5 atom % are evaluated regarding their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), as well as regarding their physicochemical and mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy confirms the uniform distribution and successful incorporation of nanomaterials onto the fabric surfaces. Antimicrobial tests reveal significant inhibition of bacterial growth, with silver-based materials demonstrating superior efficacy. Importantly, the antimicrobial effect persists after five washing cycles, demonstrating the durability of the functionalization. This method demonstrates a simple and industry-compatible approach for producing durable antimicrobial cotton fabrics.