Nanocomposite Cotton Fabrics with in Situ Formed Copper Nanoparticles Using Citrus Lemon Leaf Extract as Reducing Agent

Nanocomposite cotton fabrics (NCCFs) with in situ formed copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using aqueous extraction of citrus lemon leaves as reducing agent have been made. The NCCFs have been analyzed by SEM, FTIR, XRD and TGA techniques and antibacterial test. The CuNPS have been roughly spherical in shape with a mean size in the range of 82-114 nm. The OH and C-OH groups of leaf extract has played an important role in the generation of the CuNPs in the NCCFs as established by the FTIR spectral analysis. The XRD analysis has indicated that the formation of CuNPs in NCCFs lowered the crystallinity of NCCFs. The thermal stability of NCCFs has been lowered by the CuNPs. However, the NCCFs with in situ generated CuNPs exhibited higher antibacterial activity against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and hence can be effectively used as antibacterial wound dressing and hospital bed materials.