Smart antimicrobial textiles for healthcare professionals and individuals

The high rate of industrialization and public transportation results in a massive spread of microbial infections throughout the country. Both natural and synthetic fibres are more likely to suffer from microbial attack utilizing dirt as a food source with increased microbial contamination on the human body. With the improved public awareness about infection especially during a pandemic, the prevention of hazardous microbial buildup and improvement of personal hygiene are achieved through the antimicrobial textile materials. Antimicrobial activity of textiles could be upgraded by the use of numerous chemicals, heavy metals, polymeric derivatives, quaternary ammonium compounds, different types of chitosan and halogenated phenols, polybiguanides and antimicrobial peptides during their production process. This promotes the development and commercialization of smart stimuli-responsive and self-cleaning textile materials. Accordingly, various commercial antimicrobial textiles are finding extensive applications in healthcare and hygiene products, such as surgical dressings and materials, beddings, clothes, wipes and sanitary napkins.