Preparation of grafted cationic polymer/silver chloride modified cellulose fibers and their antibacterial properties

In this article, we present a simple method for synthesizing antibacterial cellulose fibers that were modified with a cationic polymer and immobilized silver chloride (AgCl) particles. Relatively simple techniques of graft polymerization and onsite precipitation were used to fabricate the composites. Scanning electron microscopy images, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the immobilization of the AgCl particles. The observed inhibition zone of the immobilized AgCl particle composites indicated that the biocidal silver ions were released from the composites in aqueous solution. Compared with cationic-polymer-grafted cellulose fibers or AgCl alone, the cationic polymer/AgCl composites showed excellent antibacterial activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.