Method for preparing an antimicrobial cotton of cellulose matrix having chemically and/or physically bonded silver and antimicrobial cotton prepared therefrom
There is provided a method for preparing a natural cellulose-OAg matrix having antimicrobial activity without leaching silver from the cellulose-OAg matrix. The method comprises: introducing silver ions (Ag+) into a natural cellulose matrix by dipping the natural cellulose matrix in an AgCl-dissolved NH4OH solution and substituting hydrogen (H) of hydroxyl group (—OH) in natural cellulose with Ag+ by drying the silver ion-infused natural cellulose matrix, thus to form a natural cotton-OAg complex. The cellulose-OAg matrix prepared in the method may be useful to continuously maintain antimicrobial activity by maintaining an effective concentration of silver, which does not have cytotoxicity to human skin, and chemically bonded silver is not leached during the rehydration due to the chemical bond between the silver and the cellulose matrix.
