Investigating the Properties and Characterization of a Hybrid 3D Printed Antimicrobial Composite Material Using FFF...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Growing need for novel antimicrobial materials due to pathogen resistance and pandemics.
• Conventional materials face limitations in combating resistant bacteria.
• Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) offers advanced composite material development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of hybrid metallic-polymer composites.
• To evaluate copper-polylactide-stainless steel (Cu-PLA-SS) and copper-polylactide-aluminum (Cu-PLA-Al) composites.
• To assess suitability for biomedical, food packaging, and tissue engineering applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of Cu-PLA-SS and Cu-PLA-Al hybrid composites using FFF.
• Testing antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, S. Poona, Enterococci).
• Evaluation of bacterial reduction at various time intervals (5 min to 24 h).

Main Results:

• Both Cu-PLA-SS and Cu-PLA-Al composites exhibited excellent antimicrobial efficiency.
• A 99% reduction in bacterial load was observed within 10 minutes of exposure.
• High wt.% of metallic particles (Copper, SS 17-4, Al) contributed to antimicrobial activity.

Conclusions:

• 3D printed polymeric composites enriched with metallic particles are effective antimicrobial agents.
• These materials present sustainable solutions for high-touch surfaces in public and healthcare environments.
• Potential applications in biomedical, food packaging, and tissue engineering are highlighted.