Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were obtained throughout the fungal biosynthesis using extracellular filtrate of the epiphytic fungus B. ochroleuca and were incorporated in cotton and polyester fabrics by common impregnation procedure that was repeated once, twice or four times. Both fabrics were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the effectiveness of impregnation was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The AgNPs loaded fabrics showed potent antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as well as on clinically relevant Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis, indicating that the AgNPs impregnation of cotton and polyester fabrics was efficient. AgNPs effectively inhibited the biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and was not toxic to Galleria mellonella larvae indicating a promising probability of biotechnological application.
Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Biofilm; Functional textiles; Silver nanoparticles.