We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Fabrication, Characterization, and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assessment of Tri-Layered Multifunctional Scaffold for Effective Chronic Wound Healing
Summary
Researchers developed a three-layered wound healing scaffold using recycled polystyrene and fishing line plastic waste, combined with a chitosan hydrogel middle layer. The top layer repels water to protect the wound while the bottom layer absorbs moisture to promote healing, and the hydrogel provides antimicrobial and drug-delivery properties. Lab tests showed the scaffold was compatible with human cells, suggesting recycled plastic materials could potentially be repurposed for biomedical applications.
Chronic wounds have been a global health risk that demands intensive exploration. A tri-layered biomaterial scaffold has been developed for skin wounds. The top layer of the scaffold is superhydrophobic, and the bottom layer is hydrophilic, both of which were electrospun using recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS) and monofilament fishing line (MFL), respectively. The intermediate layer of the scaffold comprised hydrogel by cross-linking chitosan (CS) with polyethylene glycol. The surface morphology, surface chemistry, thermal degradation, and wettability characteristics of each layer of the scaffold were examined. Also, the antibacterial activity and in vitro cytotoxicity study on the combined tri-layered scaffold were assessed against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Data revealed exceptional water repellency of the heat-treated electrospun top superhydrophobic layer (TSL) with a high-water contact angle (WCA) of 172.44°. A TSL with 15 wt% of micro-/nano-inclusions had the best thermal stability above 400 °C. The bottom hydrophilic layer (BHL) displayed a WCA of 9.91°. Therapeutically, the synergistic effect of the combined tri-layered scaffold significantly inhibited bacteria growth by 70.5% for E. coli and 68.6% for S. aureus. Furthermore, cell viability is enhanced when PEG is included as part of the intermediate CS hydrogel layer (ICHL) composition.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Polymeric Patches Based on Chitosan/Green Clay Composites and Hazelnut Shell Extract as Bio-Sustainable Medication for Wounds
Not directly relevant to microplastics — this paper develops chitosan and green clay composite patches incorporating hazelnut shell extract as a wound-healing biomaterial.
Advancements in Regenerative Hydrogels in Skin Wound Treatment: A Comprehensive Review
This review covers advances in regenerative hydrogels for treating skin wounds, highlighting how these water-absorbing materials promote healing by keeping wounds moist, supporting cell growth, and delivering drugs in a controlled way. While not about microplastics directly, hydrogel technology represents a biocompatible alternative to plastic-based wound dressings that could reduce medical microplastic waste.
Acoustic and thermal characterization of a novel sustainable material incorporating recycled microplastic waste
Researchers created a new eco-friendly foam material by embedding recovered marine microplastics into a bio-based matrix, producing an open-cell insulating material with strong acoustic and thermal properties. The innovation offers a potential path to upcycle hard-to-recycle mixed marine plastic waste into useful building and industrial insulation products.
In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of rPET/Cu-Alg Nanofibers for Anti-Infective Therapy
Researchers developed wound dressing nanofibers from recycled PET plastic bottles, functionalized with copper-enhanced alginate for antimicrobial properties. Testing showed the materials effectively prevented bacterial growth and biofilm formation while remaining safe for living tissue in both lab and animal studies. The study demonstrates a promising way to repurpose plastic waste into valuable medical materials that could help fight wound infections.
Biodegradable sponges made from chitin-cellulose nanofibers for sustainable removal of microplastics from aquatic environment
Researchers developed a biodegradable sponge made from chitin and cellulose nanofibers that can remove up to 93% of microplastics from water. The sponge maintained strong performance after four reuse cycles and naturally biodegraded in soil environments. The study presents a sustainable, eco-friendly approach to cleaning microplastic contamination from aquatic ecosystems without introducing additional persistent pollutants.