Authors Selvi Thamarai B., Rajendren R., Nithyalakshmi B. and Gayathirignaneswari S.
Microbial growth on the textile material has been considered as a major cause of biodegradation. The textile materials, on which source of nutrients are present (food contamination, oil, fat, protein, sugar, skin secretion like sweat and sebum etc.) become a medium for a rapid multiplication of microorganisms. A term that is adopted to indicate the textile fibers with activity against microorganisms growth is bioactive fibers. The attachment of microorganisms to fabrics is dependent upon the type of organism and the physio-chemical characteristics of fabric substrate. Microbial adherence is also affected by the substrate and bacterial cell wall hydrophobicity. Such studies have stimulated the research on antimicrobial textiles with focuses on development of durable and powerful antimicrobial finishing technologies. Gram Negative Organisms, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pnuemoniae, Pseudomonas aueroginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella species, Enterobacter species Gram Positive Organisms, Bacillus sublitis, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcal pnuemoniae Fungi Aspergillus species, Penicillum species, Cryptococcus species, Candida albicans. Fabric Treatment with Aloe Gel Extract, Aqueous extract of aloe gel was directly applied on 100% cotton fabric by pad-dry – cure method. Aloe gel extract was applied along with citric acid. Antimicrobial activity of treated fabric, Wash Durability Testing, finished fabrics were washed using standard detergent (3%owf) at 40″C in an automatic washing machine, Treatment with aloe vera gel inhibits microbial growth. Aloe vera gel can inhibit the growth of Shigella flexneri and Streptococcus pyrogenes . Aloe vera gel shows antifungal activity. The phenol group and anthraquinones present in Aloe vera gel are binding microbial proteins, inhibiting their growth and exhibit both antibacterial and antifungal activity. The microbial activity of Aloe vera gel can retain after 15th wash cycle up to 20 cycles. The application of Aloe vera gel on to cotton fabric showed better antimicrobial activity. The bioactivity was retained up to 15th wash cycles. This ecofriendly natural antimicrobial agent gives good effect to human skin in addition to values on garments also in a low cost.
