Olmo Frateur obtained his PhD

The title of his PhD thesis is "Electrospun Poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) Nanofiber Membranes, toward Future Wound Dressing Applications".

Burns are common and, in severe cases, require specialized care. In addition to ointments and surgical procedures, advanced wound dressings with long-lasting disinfectant and moisture-regulating properties can help create an ideal environment for wound healing without additional complications. Although there are already several types on the market, there is still a need for better materials that are widely applicable.
This doctoral research investigated whether nanofiber membranes, which consist of ultrafine fibers made from polyoxazolines (a type of plastic), are suitable for such applications. Due to their structure, these membranes are highly breathable, flexible, and can be functionalized relatively easily. Polyoxazolines are also biocompatible, and their chemical structure allows precise tailoring of the material properties.
Specifically, a method was developed to improve the water stability of the membranes via a cross-linking step, so that they would not dissolve in the wound. In addition, the influence of ambient humidity on their material properties, such as flexibility and strength, was studied, as well as how this can be controlled. Finally, research was conducted into how disinfectants can be released from the developed materials, and methods for controlling this were proposed.
This research shows that polyoxazoline nanofiber membranes are promising materials for the development of future advanced wound dressings.

Supervisors:

• Prof. Karen De Clerck - Universiteit Gent
• Prof. Richard Hoogenboom - Universiteit Gent

Members of the Examination Board:

• Prof. Filip De Turck - Universiteit Gent, Chair
• Prof. Lode Daelemans - Universiteit Gent
• Prof. Peter Dubruel - Universiteit Gent
• Prof. Urszula Stachewicz – AGH University of Krakow
• Prof. Paul Wieringa – Maastricht University