Chitosan Membranes Containing Plant Extracts: Preparation, Characterization and Antimicrobial Properties.

The main strategy of this study was to combine the traditional perspective of using medicinal extracts with polymeric scaffolds manufactured by an engineering approach to fabricate a potential dressing product with antimicrobial properties. Thus, chitosan-based membranes containing and extracts were developed and their suitability as novel dressing materials was investigated. The morphology of the chitosan-based films was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the chemical structure characterization was performed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Tunable Properties Composition Modulations of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Xanthan Gum/Oxalic Acid Hydrogels.

The design of hydrogel networks with tuned properties is essential for new innovative biomedical materials. Herein, poly(vinyl alcohol) and xanthan gum were used to develop hydrogels by the freeze/thaw cycles method in the presence of oxalic acid as a crosslinker. The structure and morphology of the obtained hydrogels were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and swelling behavior.

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Plant Extracts Films: Preparation, Surface Characterization and Antibacterial Studies against Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria.

In this study, we aim to obtain biomaterials with antibacterial properties by combining poly(vinyl alcohol) with the extracts obtained from various selected plants from Romania. Natural herbal extracts of freshly picked flowers of the lavender plant () and leaves of the peppermint plant ( hemp plant ( L.), verbena plant and sage plant were selected after an intensive analyzing of diverse medicinal plants often used as antibacterial and healing agents from the country flora.

Composite Materials Based on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Polyurethane for Improving the Quality of MRI.

Polyether urethane (PU)-based magnetic composite materials, containing different types and concentrations of iron oxide nanostructures (FeO and FeO), were prepared and investigated as a novel composite platform that could be explored in different applications, especially for the improvement of the image quality of MRI investigations. Firstly, the PU structure was synthetized by means of a polyaddition reaction and then hematite (FeO) and magnetite (FeO) nanoparticles were added to the PU matrices to prepare magnetic nanocomposites. The type and amount of iron oxide nanoparticles influenced its structural, morphological, mechanical, dielectric, and magnetic properties.

Preparation and Evaluation of Nanofibrous Hydroxypropyl Cellulose and β-Cyclodextrin Polyurethane Composite Mats.

A series of nanofibrous composite mats based on polyurethane urea siloxane (PUUS), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was prepared using electrospinning technique. PUUS was synthesized by two steps solution polymerization procedure from polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and 1,3-bis-(3-aminopropyl) tetramethyldisiloxane (BATD) as chain extender. Then, the composites were prepared by blending PUUS with HPC or βCD in a ratio of 9:1 (w/w), in 15% dimethylformamide (DMF).