Polymers

Wounds caused by Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) infection often exhibit delayed healing and are prone to complications, making them a significant challenge in clinical treatment. Current conventional treatments, such as antibiotics and gauze dressings, have limited effectiveness. To address this, this study developed a multifunctional fiber membrane using electrospinning technology. Micron- or nano-sized Haliotidis Concha (HC) and eugenol (Eu) were loaded onto the membrane to promote healing in V. vulnificus-infected wounds. The prepared fiber membranes exhibited diameters of approximately 0.35 ± 0.01 μm. Membranes loaded with nano-HC demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy, achieving a 96.2% inhibition rate against V. vulnificus, which was markedly superior to the micron-HC group (p < 0.05). Notably, the nano-HC/Eu membranes exhibited exceptionally high flexibility with an elongation at break of 878.1 ± 35.3%, while maintaining a tensile strength of approximately 2.2 MPa. Furthermore, these membranes exhibited excellent biocompatibility, with cell viability exceeding 85% for fibroblasts, and demonstrated good hemocompatibility. They also effectively promoted cell migration, indicating their potential as wound scaffold materials. In a V. vulnificus-infected skin wound model, the nano-HC/Eu fiber membrane accelerated collagen deposition and promoted wound healing, achieving a wound closure rate of 94.7 ± 1.1% on day 15. In summary, this study developed a multifunctional fiber membrane with antibacterial, antioxidant, and wound healing properties, offering a novel dressing for treating V. vulnificus infections.

Additive manufacturing technologies such as Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF) enable the production of polymer parts with relatively isotropic mechanical properties; however, their surface condition often limits direct functional application. This study investigates the feasibility of selected surface treatments applied to PA12GB (glass bead-filled PA12) parts manufactured by MJF, with the aim of improving abrasion resistance and temperature-related performance through the modification of surface properties. Five surface treatments were evaluated: base coating (BC), acrylic coating (AC), chemical vapor smoothing (PostPro3D), glasscoat (epoxy-based SiO₂ system), and a ceramic-filled 2K epoxy coating. Untreated samples served as a reference. Surface layer thickness, roughness (ISO 21920-2:2021), coefficient of friction (ASTM G99-23), and Shore D hardness (ASTM D2240-15R21) were measured. The results showed significant differences among treatments. Glasscoat and ceramic coatings formed the thickest and hardest layers (≈265 μm and ≈409 μm; Shore D ≈ 84) but exhibited substantially increased friction coefficients. Vapor smoothing and BC produced thinner layers with properties comparable to untreated samples. Acrylic coating reduced surface roughness while moderately increasing hardness. The findings demonstrate that surface treatments substantially alter the tribological and mechanical surface behavior of MJF-printed PA12GB parts. The suitability of a given treatment strongly depends on the intended functional requirements, particularly with respect to friction and surface hardness.

Cellulose has long been recognised as the fundamental structural component of plant cell walls and is currently established as a highly adaptable molecular scaffold for next-generation sustainable materials [...]