Antimicrobial yarn having nanosilver particles and methods for manufacturing the same

#The present invention relates to an antimicrobial yarn which contains about 0.2 to 1.5% by weight of nanosilver particles (diameter between 1 and 100 nm) adhered thereto. The nanosilver particles are prepared without the use of ammonia or ammonia water. The antimicrobial yarn is preferably used in making cloth particularly for treatment of patients with burns or wounds. The cloth can be used to make clothes such as underwear, socks, shoe cushions, shoe linings, bed sheets, pillow cases, towels, women hygiene products, laboratory coats, and medical robes. The present invention also relates to methods for making and using the antimicrobial fiber for healthcare and medical use.

#Metals including silver, copper, mercury, and zinc are known for anti-bacterial properties. Bacteria treated by these metals do not acquire resistance to the metals. Therefore, the bactericidal metals have advantages over the conventional antibiotics which often cause the selection of antibiotic-resistant microorganism.

#Silver is generally a safe and effective antimicrobial metal. Silver ions function in adversely affecting cellular metabolism to inhibit bacterial cell growth. When silver ions are absorbed into bacterial cells, silver ions suppress respiration, basal metabolism of the electron transfer system, and transport of substrate in the microbial cell membrane. Silver ions also inhibit bacterial growth by producing active oxygen on the surface of silver powder and silver-plated articles. Silver has been studied for antibacterial purposes in the form of powder, metal-substituted zeolite, metal-plated non-woven fabric, and crosslinked compound.

#FIG. 1 is a transmission electron micrograph (JEM-100CXII) which shows a yarn evenly attached with nanosilver particles. The diameters of the nanosilver particles were below 20 nm. The total wt % of silver in the yarn was 0.4-0.9%. A: Batch No. 010110; B: Batch No. 001226; C: Batch No. 001230; D: Batch No. 010322-1; E: Batch No. 011323; F: Batch No. 010322-2.

#The present invention provides an antimicrobial yarn which has a long-lasting effect and a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. For the purpose of the present invention, a yarn means a continuous often plied strand composed of either natural or man-made fibers and used in weaving and knitting to form cloth. The antimicrobial yarn contains nanosilver particles having diameters in the range of 1 nm to 100 nm. The nanosilver particles are adhered to the fibers of the yarn and contribute to the antimicrobial effects. The silver content in the antimicrobial fiber is 0.2% to 1.5% by weight of the total weight of the yarn

#The fibers of the yarn are made of cotton, linen, silk, wool, leather, blending fabric, or synthetic fiber or a combination therewith. The yarn can be either in its natural color or dyed with various colors, and the antimicrobial capacity of the yarn (either in natural color or dyed with various colors) is retained.

#The antimicrobial yarn of the present invention is non-toxic, safe, and thus, suitable for use in medical or healthcare related purposes. The antimicrobial yarn can be used to make an antimicrobial cloth. The cloth is suitable for use as bandage, gauge, or surgery cloth. It can also be used in making clothes or clothing such as underwear, panty, shoe cushions, shoe insole, shoe lining, bedding sheets, pillow sham, towel, feminine hygiene products, medical robes etc.