In this study, the main aim was to fabricate propolis (Ps)-containing wound dressing patches using 3D printing technology. Different combinations and structures of propolis (Ps)-incorporated sodium alginate (SA) scaffolds were developed. The morphological studies showed that the porosity of developed scaffolds was optimized when 20% (v/v) of Ps was added to the solution. The pore sizes decreased by increasing Ps concentration up to a certain level due to its adhesive properties. The mechanical, swelling-degradation (weight loss) behaviors, and Ps release kinetics were highlighted for the scaffold stability. An antimicrobial assay was employed to test and screen antimicrobial behavior of Ps against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains. The results show that the Ps-added scaffolds have an excellent antibacterial activity because of Ps compounds. An in vitro cytotoxicity test was also applied on the scaffold by using the extract method on the human dermal fibroblasts (HFFF2) cell line. The 3D-printed SA–Ps scaffolds are very useful structures for wound dressing applications.

Background and Objectives: A coaxial electrospinning technique was used to produce core/shell nanofibers of a polylactic acid (PLA) as a shell and a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) containing metformin hydrochloride (MH) as a core. Materials and Methods: Fish sarcoplasmic protein (FSP) was extracted from fresh bonito and incorporated into nanofiber at various concentrations to investigate the influence on properties of the coaxial nanofibers. The morphology, chemical structure and thermal properties of the nanofibers were studied. Results: The results show that uniform and bead-free structured nanofibers with diameters ranging from 621 nm to 681 nm were obtained. A differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis shows that FSP had a reducing effect on the crystallinity of the nanofibers. Furthermore, the drug release profile of electrospun fibers was analyzed using the spectrophotometric method. Conclusions: The nanofibers showed prolonged and sustained release and the first order kinetic seems to be more suitable to describe the release. MTT assay suggests that the produced drug and protein loaded coaxial nanofibers are non-toxic and enhance cell attachment. Thus, these results demonstrate that the produced nanofibers had the potential to be used for diabetic wound healing applications.

Objective: To investigate and evaluate the effect of 20 commercial wound dressings on the pH values of selected fluids upon contact, over a period of 7 days. Method: The effect of the dressings on the pH of two different solutions, solution a (2.298g sodium chloride [NaCl], 0.368g calcium chloride [CaCl₂] dihydrate added to 1 litre of de-ionised water) and distilled water, was investigated over a period of 7 days. Two different methods for contacting fluid with the dressings were used, to simulate wounds with different levels of exudate: i) immersing the dressing in 35ml fluid, and ii) adding 5ml drop-wise onto the dressing's absorbent pad on a daily basis. Results: on immersion of the dressings, the pH values of the fluids changed quite appreciably over time, with similar results for both methods. The lowest pH values were found with the hydrocolloid dressings, for both solution a and distilled water. The foam dressings had an alkaline effect on the fluids; in most cases, they increased the fuid's pH significantly. The non-woven dressings reduced the pH of both fluids to a lesser extent than the hydrocolloid dressings. The hydroactive dressings decreased the pH value of solution a and increased the pH of distilled water. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the pH values of the fluids are not constant, likely due to the complicated nature of the dressings’ chemical structures and designs. Thus, optimisation of pH level to meet the requirements of any specific wound types and healing processes must consider the complex nature of the dressing. The increase in pH value of the wound over time needs to be minimised in order to maximise the effectiveness of the healing therapy. Declaration of interest: This work was supported by a financial grant from the Turkish Council of Higher education in collaboration with Marmara university, Turkey and the university of Bolton, UK. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

In this study, two common nonwoven fibrous dressings, based on carboxymethylcellulose and alginate, and their silver-treated forms were evaluated in order to compare their performance characteristics including fluid handling capacity, the mechanical properties, and the thermal behavior. The effect of immersing the dressings in the two fluids (solution A and distilled water) on pH was also studied. The results show some clear differences between the untreated and silver-treated dressings, for example the fluid handling and the swelling values of the dressings were reduced due to silver treatment. More considerably, changes were observed in the tensile properties which were decreased when these dressing were treated with the silver. There was no considerable effect on the thermal characteristics of the dressings upon the silver treatment. Statistically significant differences were observed in the pH over time for all tested specimens and also for both test fluids.

Historically, cotton has been regarded as a highly sustainable material; however, thorough research indicates otherwise. The increasing levels of pollution and the need to address climate change have led towards a global search for sustainable alternatives. Plants with comparable chemical compositions, such as hemp, are attracting growing attention. The cultivation of hemp can be done with sustainable methods, thereby making it a viable alternative to cotton. This study investigates the mechanical, physical, and dyeing properties of 100% wet-spun hemp yarn in its natural and bleached state with the objective of incorporating its use in both technical and traditional textiles. Although significant academic literature is available on the properties of cotton, there is a noticeable lack of literature based on wet-spun hemp. This research suggests that the bleaching process positively affects wet-spun hemp yarn, thus making it suitable for use by the textile industries in various applications.