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. 2025 Apr 16;17(8):1077.
doi: 10.3390/polym17081077.

Electrospun Chitosan-Coated Recycled PET Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications: Short-Term Antimicrobial Efficacy and In Vivo Evaluation

Andreea Mihaela Grămadă Pintilie  1 , Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu  1   2 , Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă  1 , Alina Maria Holban  2   3 , Alina Ciceu  4 , Cornel Balta  4 , Hildegard Herman  4 , Anca Hermenean  4   5 , Simona Ardelean  6 , Alexandra-Elena Stoica  1 , Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu  1   2 , Adina Alberts  7
Affiliations

Electrospun Chitosan-Coated Recycled PET Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications: Short-Term Antimicrobial Efficacy and In Vivo Evaluation

Andreea Mihaela Grămadă Pintilie et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

This study investigates the preparation of electrospun recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) coated with chitosan (CS) and evaluates their antibiofilm properties and in vivo response. rPET scaffolds were first fabricated via electrospinning at different flow rates (10, 7.5, 5 and 2.5 mL/h) and subsequently coated with chitosan. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that fiber morphology varied with electrospinning parameters, influencing microbial adhesion. Antimicrobial tests demonstrated that rPET@CS significantly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans biofilm formation compared to control and uncoated rPET surfaces. Subcutaneous implantation of rPET@CS scaffolds induced a transient inflammatory response, with macrophage recruitment and collagen deposition supporting tissue integration. These findings highlight the potential of rPET@CS scaffolds as sustainable antimicrobial biomaterials for applications in infection-resistant coatings and biomedical implants.

Keywords: Candida albicans; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus; antimicrobial biomaterials; biofilm inhibition; chitosan; electrospinning; rPET; scaffold; tissue integration.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SEM images of rPET@CS samples obtained through electrospinning at different flow rates (10, 7.5, 5 and 2.5 mL/h)., where (a1–a3) rPET@CS/10, (b1–b3) rPET@CS/7.5, (c1–c3) rPET@CS/5 and (d1–3) rPET@CS/2.5.
Figure 1
Figure 1
SEM images of rPET@CS samples obtained through electrospinning at different flow rates (10, 7.5, 5 and 2.5 mL/h)., where (a1–a3) rPET@CS/10, (b1–b3) rPET@CS/7.5, (c1–c3) rPET@CS/5 and (d1–3) rPET@CS/2.5.
Figure 2
Figure 2
FT-IR spectra of PET@CS samples electrospun at different flow rates.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Logarithmic (log10 CFU/mL) quantification of Staphylococcus aureus adherence and biofilm formation on control, rPET and rPET@CS over 24, 48 and 72 h.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Logarithmic (log10 CFU/mL) quantification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adherence and biofilm formation on control, rPET and rPET@CS over 24, 48 and 72 h.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Logarithmic (log10 CFU/mL) quantification of Candida albicans adherence and biofilm formation on control, rPET and rPET@CS over 24, 48 and 72 h.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The effects of rPET@CS subcutaneous implantation in mice on the C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at 24 h and 7 days post-surgery.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Biocompatibility analysis of rPET@CS at 24 h and 7 days post-implantation. (a) H&E stain; (b) TNF-α immunohistochemistry. Material (*); Barr 200 μm.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Collagen proliferation analysis after rPET@CS subcutaneous implantation at 24 h and 7 days by Masson-Goldner trichrome stain. Barr 200 μm.
Figure 9
Figure 9
F4/80 protein expression as revealed by confocal microscopy at 24 h and 7 days post-implantation. F4/80 is labeled in green, and the nuclei are counterstained with DAPI.
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