Evaluating the use of chitosan coated Ag nano-SeO2 composite in consolidation of Funeral Shroud from the Egyptian Museum of Cairo

Abstract

Polymers nano-composite sciences (PNC) provide us each day with updated contributions enriching the consolidation methodology of ancient materials. This study aims to evaluate the use of cross-linked chitosan (CCTS) coated Ag-loading nano-SeO2 composite (CCTS–SLS) in the consolidation of a Funeral Shroud from the Egyptian Museum of Cairo. In this study, new linen textile samples were artificially aged to simulate the ancient ones. The new accelerated aged linen textile samples simulated to the ancient one were infested with active strains of fungi and bacteria, which were isolated from the ancient shroud. Both the ancient fibers and the newly prepared linen samples were consolidated with cross-linked chitosan (CCTS) coated Ag-loading nano-SeO2 composite (CCTS–SLS) and chitosan biopolymer. Various methods and instruments were used to investigate both the treated and untreated samples. The structures of (CCTS–SLS) were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The change of the colors (ΔL, Δa, and Δb), tensile strength and elongation of the untreated and treated linen samples after ageing were assessed. Consolidated and non-consolidated ancient fibers and accelerated linen samples were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and Fourier transform–infra-red spectroscopy (FT–IR) and have been elementally analyzed using inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The consolidated samples were appraised via dynamic thermal analysis (DMTA). The results show that the antibacterial activity of (CCTS–SLS) was affected by the mass ratio of selenium dioxide to chitosan, and by the cross-linking time. The antibacterial activity against Staphlococcus aureus sp. strains was studied. Samples treated with (CCTS–SLS) showed excellent properties in comparison to chitosan treated samples. Genetic efficacy of nano CCTS–SLS is different from normal-sized chitosan. The application of cross-linked chitosan (CCTS) coated Ag-loading nano-SeO2 composite (CCTS–SLS) to the consolidation of the ancient shroud showed good bacterial resistance, enriching the long-term durability of the ancient linen.