Eco-friendly functionalization of polyamide fibres via sustainable phyto-synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using safflower ( Carthamus tinctorius ) extract

Abstract

The textile industry is increasingly shifting toward sustainable antimicrobial solutions that minimise the environmental and health risks associated with conventional chemical treatments. This study presents a green, one-step synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) extract to simultaneously dye and functionalise polyamide fabrics, avoiding toxic reducing agents. At an optimised 1:2 extract-to-precursor ratio, the NPs exhibited a crystalline, spherical morphology (60±25 nm) with strong fabric adhesion. Treated textiles achieved excellent colouration (K/S=11.25) and complete (100%) antibacterial reduction against E. coli and S. aureus, retaining >85% activity after 10 washing cycles. Colourfastness reached top ratings (5/5 for wash and rub, 8/8 for light). This scalable, eco-friendly platform offers durable, high-performance multifunctional textiles for medical and everyday applications, aligning with sustainable nanomaterial synthesis.