This book covers the functionalisation of silicone surfaces with polysaccharides to improve their antimicrobial and antifouling properties, thus reducing the implant-related infections. The authors describe how silicone surfaces were chosen because silicone exhibits excellent biocompatible properties and is already being used for medical implants such as catheters, breast implants, prosthetics etc. The potential of polysaccharides such as cellulose, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and other natural substances such as natural surfactants as coatings for silicones are also discussed, their effects are evaluated. With the aging of the population, the number of medical implants is growing and with it the number of infections associated with the use of implants.
Dr. Matej Bračič is an expert in studying interactions of molecular and polymer dispersions in liquids with solid surfaces and biological evaluation of both surfaces. His research work is focused on the preparation and characterization of nano and micro-dispersion, the preparation and characterization of solid surfaces by electrospinning, spin-coating, dip-coating and dip-casting methods, interactions with biomolecules (proteins, enzymes, bacteria) and the transfer of knowledge into the field of sensors for the production of bioactive sensors. His bibliography covers 65 units, of which 21 are original scientific articles, 29 are contributions at national and international conferences and 14 are final reports on national and international projects. He has 91 pure citations in the last 10 years and an h index of 7. He received an award at the International Conference IN-TECH 2014: Award for Science and Technology Transfer (World Association of Innovative Technologies) on 12 September2014 in Leiria, Portugal. He is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory for Characterisation and Processing of Polymers, Institute of Engineering Materials and Design, University of Maribor.
Prof. Dr. Simona Strnad, Dr. Tech. Sci. is an expert in structure and properties of fibrous materials and advanced materials engineering. Her research work is focused on investigations of structure/properties relationships of polymer materials and surface functionalization and characterization. Her bibliography comprises: 351 bibliographic items including 63 scientific papers, 7 Invited lectures, 6 book chapters, 2 patents and more than 60 research and industrial project collaborations, among them FP6 NMP3-CT-2005-500375: EPNOE – Polysaccharides; Network of Excellence “Polysaccharides” [COBISS.SI-ID 13864470]; FP7 NMP-2007-2.1.1-1 – SURFUNCELL – Nanostructured polymer-matrix composites “Surface functionalization of cellulose matrices using coatings of functionalised polysaccharides with embedded nano-particles”; EUREKA FeVal E!5851, EUREKA Vascucharge E!2866, EUREKA Eurocharge E!2821; EUREKA Hightampons E!3602. Currently she has a full professor position at the Institute of Engineering Materials and Design, University of Maribor.
Prof. Dr. Lidija Fras Zemljič (born 1973) received a PhD in Chemistry at University Maribor in 2004 for her research on bio-functionalisation for achieving improved sorption properties. She further develops her skins and gain knowledge during her postdoctoral stay at Laboratory of “Fisica Aplicada”, University of Granada, Spain and Laboratory for Forest Products Chemistry, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland during 2003–2004 years. She was/is a principal investigator and project manager in many national (ARSS agency) and industry funded research projects (EURECA; COST) and collaborated in many FP6, FP7 and H2020 research and industrial project collaborations, among them FP6 NMP3-CT-2005-500375: EPNOE – Polysaccharides; Network of Excellence “Polysaccharides” [COBISS.SI-ID 13864470]; FP7 NMP-2007-2.1.1-1 – SURFUNCELL – Nanostructured polymer-matrix composites “Surface functionalization of cellulose matrices using coatings of functionalised polysaccharides with embedded nano-particles”, etc.
Her bibliography comprises: 304 bibliographic items including 67 scientific papers, 5 Invited lectures, 7 book chapters, 2 patents. Currently she has a full professor position at the Institute of Engineering Materials and Design, University of Maribor.
