U G S Wijayapala, S D Samarasinghe, Chandrika U Gamage
Developing eco-friendly mosquito-repellent fabrics using biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from natural ingredients has attracted significant interest. Mosquito attraction is influenced by carbon dioxide exhalation and body odors caused by bacterial activity on sweat. This study presents a novel approach to synthesizing AgNPs using Citrus limon (lemon leaves) extract through a bio-reduction process with an aqueous solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3). The nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (420-460 nm), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). AgNP-treated fabrics demonstrated 70% retention of mosquito-repellent and antimicrobial properties after 20 wash cycles, outperforming directly treated fabrics. The fabrics also exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, MRSA, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This work highlights the dual functionality of AgNP-treated textiles and offers a sustainable, cost-effective solution for antimicrobial and insect-repellent applications, particularly in public health and healthcare sectors.