The development of efficient synthetic strategies for incorporating antibacterial coatings into textiles for pharma and medical applications is of great interest. This paper describes the preparation of functional nonwoven fabrics coated with polyaniline (PANI) via in situ polymerization of aniline in aqueous solution. The effect of three different monomer concentrations on the level of polyaniline coating on the fibers comprising the fabrics, and its electrical resistivities and antibacterial attributes, were studied. Experimental results indicated that weight gains of 0.7 and 3.0 mg/cm² of PANI were achieved. These levels of coatings led to the reduction of both volume and surface resistivities by several orders of magnitude for PANI-coated polyester-viscose fabrics, i.e., from 10⁸ to 10⁵ (Ω/cm) and from 10⁹ to 10⁵ Ω/square, respectively. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed the incorporation of PANI coating with an average thickness of 0.4–1.5 µm, while Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) demonstrated the preservation of the thermal stability of the pristine fabrics. The unique molecular structure of PANI, consisting of quaternary ammonium ions under acidic conditions, yielded an antibacterial effect in the modified fabrics. The results revealed that all types of PANI-coated fabrics totally killed S. aureus bacteria, while PANI-coated viscose fabrics also demonstrated 100% elimination of S. epidermidis bacteria. In addition, PANI-coated, PET-viscose and PET fabrics showed 2.5 log and 5.5 log reductions against S. epidermidis, respectively.

Inorganic transition metal dichalcogenide nanostructures are interesting for several biomedical applications such as coating for medical devices (e.g. endodontic files, catheter stents) and reinforcement of scaffolds for tissue engineering. However, their impact on human blood is unknown. A unique nanomaterial surface-engineering chemical methodology was used to fabricate functional polyacidic polyCOOH inorganic nanotubes of tungsten disulfide towards covalent binding of any desired molecule/organic species via chemical activation/reactivity of this former polyCOOH shell. The impact of these nanotubes on hemolysis, platelet aggregation and blood coagulation has been assessed using spectrophotometric measurement, light transmission aggregometry and thrombin generation assays. The functionalized nanotubes do not induce hemolysis but decrease platelet aggregation and induce coagulation through intrinsic pathway activation. The functional nanotubes were found to be more thrombogenic than the non-functional ones, suggesting lower hemocompatibility and increased thrombotic risk with functionalized tungsten disulfide nanotubes. These functionalized nanotubes should be used with caution in blood-contacting devices.

Design of experiments (DOE) methodology was used to identify and optimize factors that influence the degree of functionalization (polycarboxylation) of WS₂ INTs via a modified acidic Vilsmeier–Haack reagent. The six factors investigated were reaction time, temperature and the concentrations of 2-bromoacetic acid, WS₂ INTs, silver acetate and DMF. The significance of each factor and the associated interactive effects were evaluated using a two-level factorial statistical design in conjunction with statistical software (MiniTab^® 16) based on quadratic programming. Although statistical analysis indicated that no factors were statistically significant, time, temperature and concentration of silver acetate were found to be the most important contributors to obtaining maximum functionalization/carboxylation. By examining contour plots and interaction plots, it was determined that optimal functionalization is obtained in a temperature range of 115–120 °C with a reaction time of 54 h using a mixture of 6 mL DMF, 200 mg INTs, 800 mg 2-bromoacetic acid and 60 mg silver acetate.