This document discusses antimicrobial agents for cotton fabrics. It begins by defining antimicrobial agents as those that destroy or suppress microbial growth. It then outlines the types (bactericidal and bacteriostatic), examples used for cotton (chitosan, poly-hexamethylene biguanide, N-halamines, quarternary ammonium compounds), and their mechanisms of action. Potential disadvantages are noted along with future goals of controlling toxicity, introducing affordable eco-friendly methods, and assessing microbes individually.

1.  َّ‫ر‬‫ال‬ ِ‫ن‬ ٰ‫م‬ْ‫ح‬َّ‫ر‬‫ال‬ ِ‫هللا‬ ِ‫م‬ ْ‫س‬ِ‫ب‬ِ‫م‬ْ‫ي‬ِ‫ح‬“
 In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most
Merciful".

2. “Antimicrobial
Treatment For Cotton”

3. Outline of presentation
 Antimicrobial Agents.
 Types of Antimicrobial agents.
 Antimicrobial agents for cotton with
mechanism of action and efficiency.
 Possible disadvantages.
 Future goals.

4.  What are Antimicrobial agents ?
 “Antimicrobial agents are those
agents which provide favorable
safety from microbial agents by
either destroying them or by
suppressing their growth.”

5.  Types of Antimicrobial agents
-Bactericidal
-Bacteriostatic
 Bactericidal
 It kills bacteria of choice
 Disruption of bacterial
cell membrane occurs
here
 Bacteriostatic
 It inhibits bacterial
reproduction and growth
 Interference with
bacterial immune system
occurs here

6.  Antimicrobial agents for
Cotton fabric
 Chitosan
 Poly-hexamethylene biguanide
 N-halamines
 Quarternary ammonium compounds

7.  Chitosan
Called poly-
B-(1-4)-D-
glucosamine.
Action is both
bactericidal
and
bacteriostatic.

8.  Mechanism of chitosan:
 Bacterial surface (-vely charged) COOH
groups
 Amino (-NH2) groups of chitosan (+vely
charged)
 Binding is facilitated by oppositely charged
groups

9.  Poly-hexamethylene biguanide
Features:
These are Polymeric Polycationic amines
-Monomer:cationic biguanide unit
 Action: Bactericidal

10.  Mechanism:
Electrostatic attraction:
Electrostatic attraction operate
between cationic NH2 and anionic
Phospholipids of microbial cell wall.

11.  N-halamines:
-Heterocyclic organic compounds with (N-X) covalent bonds
Action: Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic
Mechanism:
1- Electrophilic Substitution occurs
e.g. (N-X) , X=Cl, then Cl is substituted as an
electrophile with hydrogen.
2- Cl+ binds to acceptor regions of
microorganism.

12.  Mechanism of N-halamine

13. Quarternary Ammonium
Compounds
Action : Bactericidal

14.  Mechanism:
 Surfactant binding
by opposite charges.

15.  Requirements and
Effectiveness of Antimicrobial
agents
o Requirements:
o Duarability to washing
o Selective activity
o Environmental friendly
o Easy application
o Resistant to body fluids
o No deterioration of fabric quality
o Effectiveness:
Treated and Untreated cotton fabric
o Biocidal and biostatic reactions

16.  Possible Disadvantages
 QAC’s : low washing durability
Chitosan: surface leaching
PHMB: Carcinogenic& geno-toxic
N-halamines: weakens the fibre

17.  Future Concern
Control of toxic products
production to reduce risk profile
Introduction of cost effective
and eco-friendly methods
Assessment of single microbe
one by one.