The rapid growth in wearable technology has recently stimulated the development of conductive textiles for broad application purposes, i.e., wearable electronics, heat generators, sensors, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, optoelectronic and photonics. Textile material, which was always considered just as the interface between the wearer and the environment, now plays a more active role in different sectors, such as sport, healthcare, security, entertainment, military, and technical sectors, etc. This expansion in applied development of e-textiles is governed by a vast amount of research work conducted by increasingly interdisciplinary teams and presented systematic review highlights and assesses, in a comprehensive manner, recent research in the field of conductive textiles and their potential application for wearable electronics (so called e-textiles), as well as development of advanced application techniques to obtain conductivity, with emphasis on metal-containing coatings. Furthermore, an overview of protective compounds was provided, which are suitable for the protection of metallized textile surfaces against corrosion, mechanical forces, abrasion, and other external factors, influencing negatively on the adhesion and durability of the conductive layers during textiles’ lifetime (wear and care). The challenges, drawbacks and further opportunities in these fields are also discussed critically.

Infectious diseases along with various cancer types are among the most significant public health problems and the leading cause of death worldwide. The situation has become even more complex with the rapid development of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. New drugs are urgently needed to curb the increasing spread of diseases in humans and livestock. Promising candidates are natural antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria, and therapeutic enzymes, extracted from medicinal plants. This review highlights the structure and properties of plant origin bromelain and antimicrobial peptide nisin, along with their mechanism of action, the immobilization strategies, and recent applications in the field of biomedicine. Future perspectives towards the commercialization of new biomedical products, including these important bioactive compounds, have been highlighted.

The bacterial nanocellulose (BnC) membranes were produced extracellularly by a novel aerobic acetic acid bacterium Komagataeibacter melomenusus. The BnC was modified in situ by adding carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) into the culture media, obtaining a BnC-CMC product with denser fibril arrangement, improved rehydration ratio and elasticity in comparison to BnC. The proteolytic enzyme bromelain (Br) and antimicrobial peptide nisin (N) were immobilized to BnC matrix by ex situ covalent binding and/or adsorption. The optimal Br immobilization conditions towards the maximized specific proteolytic activity were investigated by response surface methodology as factor variables. At optimal conditions, i.e., 8.8 mg/mL CMC and 10 mg/mL Br, hyperactivation of the enzyme was achieved, leading to the specific proteolytic activity of 2.3 U/mg and immobilization efficiency of 39.1 %. The antimicrobial activity was observed against Gram-positive bacteria (S. epidermidis, S. aureus and E. faecalis) for membranes with immobilized N and was superior when in situ modified BnC membranes were used. N immobilized on the BnC or BnC-CMC membranes was cytocompatible and did not cause changes in normal human dermal fibroblast cell morphology. BnC membranes perform as an efficient carrier for Br or N immobilization, holding promise in wound debridement and providing antimicrobial action against Gram-positive bacteria, respectively.

This paper presents the results of research on the preparation and properties of GO/BC nanocomposite from bacterial cellulose (BC) modified with graphene oxide (GO) using the in situ method. Two bacterial strains were used for the biosynthesis of the BC: Komagataeibacter intermedius LMG 18909 and Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans LMG 18788. A simple biosynthesis method was developed, where GO water dispersion was added to reinforced acetic acid-ethanol (RAE) medium at concentrations of 10 ppm, 25 ppm, and 50 ppm at 24 h and 48 h intervals. As a result, a GO/BC nanocomposite membrane was obtained, characterized by tensile strength greater by 150% as compared with the pure BC (̴ 50 MPa) and lower volume resistivity of ~4 ∙ 10⁹ Ω × cm. Moreover, GO addition increases membrane thickness up to ~10% and affects higher mass production, especially with low GO concentration. All of this may indicate the possibility of using GO/BC membranes in fuel cell applications.

Surgical-site infections (SSIs) represent a significant healthcare burden, often complicating wound healing and recovery. To overcome the limitations of systemic antibiotic administration, such as toxicity and poor localization, this study aimed to develop a bioactive dressing utilizing bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) impregnated with gentamicin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (GNP). Chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized via ionic gelation with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) and optimized using a one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) approach to control particle size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential. The optimized nanoparticles were impregnated into BNC disks, and the resulting composite was characterized using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, XRD and SEM. Antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated against Klebsiella pneumoniae, while biocompatibility was assessed using MTT assays and cell-adhesion studies on human fibroblasts. The optimization process yielded stable, monodisperse nanoparticles with a mean size of 80.07 nm and a PDI of 0.192. SEM imaging confirmed the successful integration of nanoparticles into the BNC nanofibrillar network without compromising the membrane’s structural integrity. The BNC-GNP composite demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against K. pneumoniae, comparable to free gentamicin solution. Furthermore, in vitro studies revealed good biocompatibility, with cell viability exceeding 70% and sustained fibroblast adhesion, although cell-attachment density decreased with higher nanoparticle concentrations. The developed BNC dressing containing gentamicin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles presents a promising multifunctional biomaterial. It effectively combines local infection control with a biocompatible environment suitable for tissue regeneration, offering a novel approach for the postoperative treatment of surgical-site infections.