Bioinspired, lignocellulosic surfaces with antimicrobial properties

• Applicant: Dr. Thomas Elschner
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 451990883

The follow-up project is focused on the synthesis of novel biocompatible MOF composites. Cellulose derivatives investigated during the current project with metal ions and biolinkers will be formed into medical materials possessing antioxidative and antimicrobial properties. SURMOFs will be created layer-by-layer from phenolic anchor groups of cellulosic thin films. Characterization of SURMOFs will be performed by microscopic imaging (AFM, SEM) and QCM-D measurements as well as ATR-IR-spectroscopy. GIXRD will reveal MOF structures including orientation. Metal ions with antimicrobial effects as well as antioxidative linkers will be applied. Bioactivity of released linkers and metal ions is triggered by stimuli-responsive decomposition of MOF composites. In addition, drug release from MOF pores will be considered. Release kinetics will be described by time-dependent increase of concentration of metals and antibiotics determined by F-AAS and HPLC/UV, respectively. Cell viability and cell morphology experiments will reveal non-toxicity of organic biolinkers. Antimicrobial properties are determined by bacterial culture experiments including live-dead staining and inhibition zone assays. Antioxidant assays and fibrinogen adsorption studies (QCM-D) will provide information to biocompatibility. Moreover, biocompatible linkers from material flows of the bioeconomy will be used within the project. Studies on state-of-the-art carboxylate ligands and innovative phenolic ligands will enable understanding about MOF formation on films of phenolic acid esters of cellulose. One intension of the project is to show structure property relationships between number/position of phenolic hydroxyl groups and growth direction of MOFs. In the first part of the project, it was shown that the molecular structure can be tailored by polysaccharide phenolic acid ester and DS including regio chemistry. The novel materials could be applied in regenerative medicine due to their antioxidative and antimicrobial (long-term) effects.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria
• Cooperation Partner: Professorin Dr. Karin Stana Kleinschek