Today, consumers are well aware of the functional protection properties of textiles, in addition to their aesthetic appearance. The use of nanoparticles for specialty finishing is an emerging area in textile processing and engineering. With the advancement in technology, it is possible to fabricate nanoparticles of the desired size and shape with various functional properties. Reports are available on the use of nanoparticles for antimicrobial, UV protection, flame retardant, and hydrophilic and hydrophobic finishes on textiles. Pathogens are a potential threat to humans and also gaining resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents. Thus, it is needed to find new and sustainable antimicrobial formulations. Metal nanoparticles have the potential ability to penetrate and destroy the cell membrane structure and eventually cause cell death. The nano-finished textiles could find various medical and hygienic applications. This review discusses recent research attempts to impart antimicrobial finishes to textiles using metal nanoparticles, focusing on the action of microbes on textiles, the synthesis and application of nanoparticles, their antimicrobial properties, the mechanism of action, toxicity studies, and important applications.

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