The objective of the project is to find original approaches for the creation of innovative
fibrous materials in which natural acids with antioxidant and/or antimicrobial activity are incorporated, that are potential candidates for future applications in the biomedical field to fight with some of the causes of bacterial and fungal infections in humans. The project is of fundamental character, and envisages acquiring new knowledge on the targeted composition and design of micro- or nanofibrous polymer materials loaded with low molecular weight bioactive components. The promising nanotechnological method of electrospinning or electrospinning in conjunction with dip-coating or electrospraying will be applied for the preparation of the novel materials. Four types of novel chitosan-
based micro- and nanofibrous materials, containing natural bioactive acids in their bulk or on their surface will be obtained and characterized. Suitable spectral, microscopic, thermal and physicochemical methods will be employed for their characterization. The release profile of the bioactive acids will be studied in vitro depending on the composition and design of the micro- and nanofibers. The antioxidant activity of the
materials will be assessed as well. In vitro tests will be conducted to clarify the relationship between the composition and structure of the novel fibrous polymer materials and their biological behavior against selected targeted pathogenic microorganisms that cause refractory and socially significant diseases. The acquired new knowledge will open prospects for finding a solution to this serious societal
challenge. The planned innovative studies of the formed interdisciplinary research team of experienced researchers, young scientists, PhD students, students and postdoctoral researchers with knowledge and expertise in complementary research fields, are
expected to bring about elucidating the possibilities for preparation of electrospun micro- and nanofibrous materials with biological activity with improved composition and design.