Poly(lactic acid)/Zinc/Alginate Complex Material: Preparation and Antimicrobial Properties.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Development of advanced composite materials for biomedical applications is crucial.
• Need for antimicrobial and biodegradable materials to reduce infection and waste.
• Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nonwoven fabrics offer a promising biodegradable scaffold.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate an antimicrobial and degradable composite material.
• To characterize the physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of the new material.
• To explore the potential of PLA/alginate/Zinc composites in biomedical fields.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of poly(lactic acid) nonwoven fabric.
• Two-step dip-coating modification with alginic sodium salt and zinc (II) chloride.
• Characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis for specific surface area (SSA), and total/average pore volume.

Main Results:

• Successful preparation of a fibrous poly(lactic acid)/alginate/Zinc composite.
• Demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria.
• Exhibited antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Chaetomium globosum.

Conclusions:

• The developed poly(lactic acid)/alginate/Zinc composite exhibits significant antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
• The material's degradability and antimicrobial efficacy lay a foundation for biomedical applications.
• Further research can optimize this composite for use as an antibacterial and antifungal agent in medical settings.