Polysaccharides (PS) have a huge potential to be applied in advanced applications. For many of these functions surface properties and the interactions at their interface are crucial. By having a detailed understanding of wetting, adsorption/desorption, adhesion, morphology and internal and surface structure, PS-materials with desired properties can be created. Spin-coated thin films of PSs are one platform that can be used to elucidate these surface phenomena. Knowledge created in this way can be transferred to the development of functional materials. For the characterization of their composition and morphology, modern surface analytical methods such as a quartz-crystal microbalance, surface plasmon resonance, or X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are employed. These films can further be surface structured and serve as a basis for functional layers in optical sensors for the detection of DNA and proteins, which are examples for PS used in biomedical applications. The biological efficacy of many charged polysaccharides can also be exploited in the coating of metal (nano-) particles which can be applied in modern wound dressings leading to antimicrobial properties and biocompatibility. Electrospinning of PSs and their derivatives with incorporated functional substances for wound dressings that are antimicrobial, super-absorbing and analgesic represents another example where basic and applied know-how on PS-materials are leading to innovative products. Exploitation of naturally derived extracts with excellent antimicrobial as well as antioxidant activities, and cross-linking agents for structural tuning, can be used for preparation of different spinning formulations and wound dressings. These were studied for their surface properties, biocompatibility, bioactivity, wettability, morphology. In this presentation an overview on the current achievements in these fields of research will be given.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 18656534Development of modern biomaterials is nowadays directed towards the use of renewable, natural polymers, like polysaccharides (cellulose, chitosan, alginate, and their derivatives) combined with green processes. Therefore, environmental friendly electrospinning method is receiving attention due to production conditions for simple technical feasibility without additional disposal of hazardous organic solvents. Electrospinning process exploits electrostatic forces for generating micrometer or nanometer scale polymer fibers with special properties, e.g. high active surface area to volume ratio, tunable porous structure and malleability to conform to a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and the ability to control the nanofiber composition for achieving desired results from its properties and functionality. Produced electrospun nanofibrous mats therefore show great potential in agriculture, filtration and especially in medicine, e.g. tissue engineering and tissue repair, vascular grafts, wound healing, and drug delivery. Considering the increasing resistance of numerous bacteria to antibiotics, desired antimicrobial properties of wound dressing materials are ussualy obtained by adding synthetic components (eg. silver nanoparticles) into polymer solution or attached onto formed fibres’ surface. In our research we approach these problem in a unique way by using agricultural waste, olive leaves, aquired from spring prunning, which has in his nature unique antimicrobial and antioxidative properties. For preparation of inovative nanofibrous mats we used environmetal -friendly water extraction combined with electrospinning. The success of formation of 3D mat was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and presence of phenolic components by HPLC analysis. Nanofibrous mats were characterised also for their antioxidative/antimicrobial effectiveness and prolonged release ability.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 19051542