A supervised machine-learning prediction of textile’s antimicrobial capacity coated with nanomaterials

Textile materials, due to their large surface area and moisture retention capacity, allow the growth of microorganisms, causing undesired effects on the textile and on the end-users. The textile industry employs nanomaterials (NMs)/composites and nanofibers to enhance textile features such as water/dirt-repellent, conductivity, antistatic properties, and enhanced antimicrobial properties. As a result, textiles with antimicrobial properties are an area of interest to both manufacturers and researchers. In this study, we present novel regression models that predict the antimicrobial activity of nano-textiles after several washes. Data were compiled following a literature review, and variables related to the final product, such as the experimental conditions of nano-coating (finishing technologies) and the type of fabric, the physicochemical (p-chem) properties of NMs, and exposure variables, were extracted manually. The random forest model successfully predicted the antimicrobial activity with encouraging results of up to 70% coefficient of determination. Attribute importance analysis revealed that the type of NM, shape, and method of application are the primary features affecting the antimicrobial capacity prediction. This tool helps scientists to predict the antimicrobial activity of nano-textiles based on p-chem properties and experimental conditions. In addition, the tool can be a helpful part of a wider framework, such as the prediction of products functionality embedded into a safe by design paradigm, where products’ toxicity is minimized, and functionality is maximized.