In the study, researchers successfully fabricated electrospun fiber membranes based on biodegradable and biocompatible poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL), functionalized with positively and negatively charged dendritic polymers supplied by Polymer Factory. Morphological and physicochemical analyses confirmed the successful formation of multifunctional fibers using a scalable electrospinning process.

The functionalized fibers demonstrated strong antibacterial performance, achieving greater than 99.9% efficacy against both gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the membranes showed a significant antiviral effect, with more than 97% efficacy against an enveloped coronavirus strain (OC43). The effectiveness against other types of viruses requires further study.

The results highlight the antimicrobial functionality of Polymer Factory's charged dendritic polymers and their compatibility with scalable fiber manufacturing techniques. The developed fiber membranes show potential to supplement existing filtration technologies and support the development of advanced filtration membranes and next-generation personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly for addressing environmental and biological pollutants in indoor environments.

Strategic research collaboration
Polymer Factory is a participant in the Nano-SHIELD consortium, a collaborative European research initiative financed by the European Defence Fund (EDF). Within the consortium, Polymer Factory contributes its expertise in charged dendritic polymers to the development of advanced multifunctional membrane materials together with academic and industrial partners across Europe. The research results announced today are well aligned with this broader strategic focus on advanced protective and filtration technologies.

CEO comment
"These results clearly demonstrate the versatility and applicability of our dendritic polymer technology," says Mats Wallnér, CEO of Polymer Factory. "The combination of strong antimicrobial performance, biocompatibility, and compatibility with scalable fabrication methods represents an important step toward new application areas. We see promising opportunities for continued development and collaboration within filtration, protective materials, and indoor environmental solutions."

Scientific publication
The full peer-reviewed article is available online for investors and partners interested in the underlying technology:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773207X2600014X