Imagine clothes that will repel all bacteria.

Iranian researchers have used nanoparticles in developing a laboratory sample of antimicrobial woolen fabrics that maintain their properties after five times of washing, an Iranian news agency has reported.

The antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles have sparked a lot of interest for using them in various fields. Due to the chemical and physical characteristics of woolen fabrics which provide a good place for the growth and multiplication of microbes, the application of these nanoparticles can help produce antimicrobial properties in the products. On the other hand, using biocompatible herbal compounds in producing silver nanoparticles is an effective step toward the immunization of the process and the final application of the product.

Majid Nasiri Boroumand, one of the researchers for the project, said the aim of the study was to obtain an echo-friendly method to develop and apply silver nanoparticles to carpet weaving industry so that antimicrobial properties could be added to the final product.

He noted that pomegranate peel has been used as the regenerative material in the producing silver nanoparticles, adding “the results of our research showed the natural dyes extracted from the pomegranate peel has the ability to synthetize silver nanoparticles; thus, this method can reduce using chemical regenerative materials and help prevent environmental pollution.”

According to him, due to the fact that the synthesized nanoparticles have developed good antimicrobial properties after being placed on woolen fibers, the carpets woven from such fibers will be antimicrobial and no bacteria will grow on their surface.

The results of the research have been published in Applied Surface Science, the report said. (SH)