1. Review of magnetic nanomaterials for the electrochemical sensing of antibioticsJosip Radić, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Sara Perša, Olivija Plohl, 2025, review article Abstract: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing worldwide. This is due to the widespread and often uncontrolled release of antibiotics into surface water, drinking water, and the food chain. The traces of antibiotics (ng/L to μg/L) bioaccumulate, disrupt ecosystems, and accelerate AMR, yet regulatory monitoring remains inadequate. Sensitive analytical methods for the detection and quantification of antibiotics at trace levels in complex matrices are therefore essential. Conventional techniques, i.e., liquid or gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and capillary electrophoresis, offer high accuracy but are associated with costly instrumentation, lengthy workflows, and extensive sample preparation. Electrochemical sensors based on advanced nanomaterials, particularly magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), have attracted considerable interest due to their advantages in sensitivity and selectivity, wide linear dynamic ranges, extremely low limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), low instrument cost, and rapid response. This review provides a critical overview of recent advances in MNP-based electrochemical platforms for antibiotic detection. The focus is on wet-chemical synthesis routes, modification approaches, and strategies for integrating magnetic nanocomposites into electrodes. Synergistic improvements through hybrid architectures are emphasized, combining MNPs with carbon nanomaterials, biopolymers, metal–organic frameworks, and molecularly imprinted polymers. Trends over the last five years have shown that applications in environmental monitoring, food safety, and drinking water are increasing. We summarize the key performance metrics, outline the current technical bottlenecks, such as long-term stability and large-scale manufacturing, and provide an outlook for the future. Taken together, these developments position MNP-based electrochemical sensors as versatile, highly effective tools for curbing antibiotic pollution and slowing the advancement of AMR.
Keywords: electrochemical sensor, antibiotics̀ determination, magnetic nanomaterials, material chemistry, nanocomposites, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, environmental sensing
Published in DKUM: 04.12.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 2
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2. Upcycling wool and feather waste into nanofibers via eco-friendly hydrothermally assisted isolation of keratin : a promising approach to tunable functionalitiesSimona Strnad, Miša Žnidarič, Mojca Škerget, Maja Čolnik, Lidija Gradišnik, Uroš Maver, Lidija Fras Zemljič, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Hydrothermal degradation processes are a particularly promising eco-friendly approach to keratin isolation from biomass. They, however, result in products with a broad molecular weight distribution, which can be particularly unfavorable for fiber production. In this study, we aimed to determine whether hydrothermally degraded feather and wool waste is suitable to produce nanofibers that retain the key functional properties of keratin, such as antioxidant activity and biocompatibility. Keratin/PEO blends were used for needleless electrospinning of nanofibers cross-linked with two different cross-linkers, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA), to improve their stability to water. The surface tension, pH, turbidity, zeta potential, and protein concentration of the keratin extract solutions were analyzed. The morphology of the produced nanofibers was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope, the surface chemical structure by attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR analysis), and the cross-linking success by water contact angle measurements. The antioxidant capacity and the biocompatibility of the nanofiber mats with skin cells were investigated using a 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) vitality test, respectively. The results showed that despite the unfavorable starting materials with a wide molecular mass range from 3 to 15 kDa and low average molecular weights keratin products obtained by a green hydrothermal extraction process can be used to produce nanofibers with excellent antioxidant properties and skin cell biocompatibility. The cross-linking of the nanofibers resulted in hydrophobic nanofiber surfaces; however, it impaired their biocompatibility with skin cells compared to noncross-linked nanofibers.
Keywords: waste chicken feathers, wool, keratin nanofibers, greene xtraction process, subcritical water, hydrothermal isolation process, electrospinning, cross-linking
Published in DKUM: 28.11.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 2
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3. Engineering Materials and Process Technologies : 2nd Conference of Programme Groups of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering University of Maribor, Book of Abstracts2025 Abstract: The publication presents an overview of the research achievements of Programm Groups of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: P2-0424 Design of Novel Properties of (Nano)Materials & Applications, P2-0063 Design of Cellular Structures, P2-0120 Technologies of Metastable Materials, P2-0118 Textile Chemistry and Advanced Textile Materials, and P2-0196 Research in Power, Process, and Environmental Engineering from 2024 to 2025. Members of the program group present their research innovations and progress achieved within the framework of the program group's activities.
Keywords: advanced textile materials, composites, nanomaterials, biotechnology, surface functionalization and modification, cellular structures, metastable materials, power, process and environmental engineering
Published in DKUM: 03.11.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 2
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4. Urinary catheters : state of the art and future perspectives – a narrative reviewKristijan Skok, Uroš Bele, Špela Pintar, Zdenka Peršin Fratnik, Katja Kuzmič, Matej Bračič, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Uroš Maver, 2025, review article Abstract: Catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most frequent healthcare associated infection, arising from microbial adhesion to catheter surfaces, biofilm development, and the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance. Many publications have addressed CAUTI epidemiology, biofilm biology, or biomaterials for catheters in isolation, yet there is little literature that connects these areas into a coherent translational perspective. This review seeks to fill that gap by combining an overview of biofilm pathophysiology with recent advances in material based innovations for catheter design, including nanostructured and responsive coatings, sensor enabled systems, additive manufacturing, and three dimensional printing. Established approaches such as hydrophilic or antimicrobial impregnated catheters are considered alongside bio inspired surface textures, zwitterionic polymers, and multifunctional hydrogels. Each strategy is evaluated in terms of maturity, clinical applicability, and barriers to translation, with a focus on shifting from antibiotic dependent treatment toward prevention of biofilm formation. By bringing together knowledge from microbiology, engineering, and clinical urology, the review outlines pathways for developing the next generation of catheters that improve outcomes and reduce infection rates.
Keywords: urinary catheters, urinary tract infection, antibiotic resistance, nanotechnology, biomedical engineering
Published in DKUM: 15.09.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 1
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5. Nekovinski materialiIvan Anžel, Franc Zupanič, Mihael Brunčko, 2025 Abstract: V skripti Nekovinska gradiva bodo študenti spoznali ključne vidike pomena nekovinskih materialov v sodobnem inženirstvu. Ti materiali so danes v številnih panogah postali nepogrešljivi pri načrtovanju in izdelavi izdelkov, v nekaterih primerih pa že povsem nadomeščajo kovine in zlitine. Kombinacija njihovih edinstvenih lastnosti omogoča razvoj tehnološko naprednih rešitev, ki so hkrati energetsko učinkovite in prijazne do okolja. S študijskim gradivom Nekovinski materiali bodo študenti pridobili poglobljeno razumevanje o zgradbi, lastnostih in tehnologijah izdelave polimernih, keramičnih in kompozitnih materialov.
Keywords: nekovinski materiali, polimeri, keramika, kompoziti, zgradba, lastnosti
Published in DKUM: 10.06.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 14
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6. New approach for adsorptive removal of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin: carboxymethyl-dextran-functionalised magnetic iron oxide nanomaterialsErik Mihelič, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Marjana Simonič, Sašo Gyergyek, Alenka Vesel, Silvo Hribernik, Matej Bračič, Ivan Anžel, Olivija Plohl, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Antibiotic residues in environmental media pose a significant health, social and economic problem and require effective removal strategies. This study presents a novel approach for the removal of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin from water sources using magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) synthesised by co-precipitation, and subsequently functionalised with the polysaccharide carboxymethyl-dextran (CMD). The prepared nanoadsorbent was characterised extensively by various physicochemical analyses, to evaluate its morphology, crystal structure, surface chemistry, electrokinetic properties, thermogravimetric properties and magnetic features. These analyses confirmed the successful functionalisation of the MNPs with CMD highlighting its potential for effective adsorption applications. The stability of CMD coating on MNPs was evaluated in terms of total carbon content, an important, yet often overlooked factor. The adsorption performance of MNPs@CMD for ciprofloxacin was investigated systematically by studying the effects of adsorbent dosage, pH, initial ciprofloxacin concentration, ionic strength, adsorption time and kinetics, temperature, and reusability. Under optimal conditions, nanoadsorbent exhibited a satisfactory maximum adsorption capacity of 14.71 mg/g, and maintained a removal eff iciency of 79 % after four cycles, with minimal desorption of CMD layer on the MNPs. These findings demonstrate the potential of this magnetic polysaccharide nanoadsorbent for effective removal of ciprofloxacin from aqueous environments, enabling magnetic recovery and reuse.
Keywords: Carboxymethyl-dextran-MNPs, ciprofloxacin, adsorption
Published in DKUM: 26.05.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 17
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7. Keratinski nanodelci iz produkta hidrotermične razgradnje perja/volne in formulacija premazov na celulozne tekstilije : magistrsko deloTamara Gavrić, 2025, master's thesis Abstract: V magisterskem delu je predstavljena sinteza delcev iz ekstrahiranega keratina iz odpadne volne oz. perja in kvaterniziranega hitozana. Cilj je, da dobimo nanodelce (velikost delcev do 100 nm), katere bi uporabili za medicinske tekstilije namenjene celjenju ran. Keratinske suspenzije smo še dodatno prečistili z dializo in filtrirali skozi 1 μm filter. Sintezo nanodelcev smo izvedli z metodo ionskega geliranja, kjer smo počasi dodajali hitozan v keratin pri pH=5, konstantnem mešanju in pri sobni tempraturi z namenom, da bi zamrežili keratinske karboksilne (negativne) skupine s hitozanskimi aminskimi (pozitivnimi) skupinami. Pri optimizaciji razmerij in sprotnem merjenju zeta potenciala je bila izbrana mešanica F v množinskem razmerju hitozan:keratin=1:5000. Ta je pri meritvah zeta potenciala skozi pH območje med 2 in 9, imela izoelektrično točko pri pH okoli 7 in s tem obdržala tako pozitiven kot negativen značaj, kar kaže na amfoterni značaj in uspešno zamreženje. S tem v delce doprinesemo antioksidativne kot protimikrobne značilnosti obeh združenih polimerov. Optimalni mešanici smo nanesli na bombažno tekstilijo in preverili antioksidativnost le te, ki je bila visoka. Nazadnje smo naredili test omočljivost tekstilije in izmerili ATR-FTIR spekter, s pomočjo katerega smo ugotovili, da pri sintezi premaza in premazovanju ni prišlo do spremembe glavnih funkcionalnih skupin,
Keywords: ionsko geliranje, keratin, hitozan, nanodelci, celjenje ran, antioksidativnost
Published in DKUM: 02.04.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 30
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8. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering : Research Guide2025, guide book Abstract: The publication presents an overview of research activities and research achievements at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The following research areas are presented: Energy, process and environmental engineering, Construction and design, Materials technology, Mechanics, Production engineering, Textile materials and design, and Fundamental and general areas. Individual laboratories and centers of the faculty present their research equipment, service offerings for industry, collaborations with companies and other institutions, the most prominent publications, patents, national and international projects and the most important research achievements.
Keywords: energy, construction and design, process and environmental engineering, materials technology, mechanics, production engineering, textile materials and design
Published in DKUM: 01.04.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 2
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9. Significant fragmentation of disposable surgical masks—enormous source for problematic micro/nanoplastics pollution in the environmentAlen Erjavec, Olivija Plohl, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Julija Volmajer Valh, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: The pandemic of COVID-19 disease has brought many challenges in the field of personal
protective equipment. The amount of disposable surgical masks (DSMs) consumed increased dramatically, and much of it was improperly disposed of, i.e., it entered the environment. For this reason,
it is crucial to accurately analyze the waste and identify all the hazards it poses. Therefore, in the
present work, a DSM was disassembled, and gravimetric analysis of representative DSM waste was
performed, along with detailed infrared spectroscopy of the individual parts and in-depth analysis
of the waste. Due to the potential water contamination by micro/nanoplastics and also by other
harmful components of DSMs generated during the leaching and photodegradation process, the
xenon test and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure were used to analyze and evaluate the
leaching of micro/nanoplastics. Micro/nanoplastic particles were leached from all five components
of the mask in an aqueous medium. Exposed to natural conditions, a DSM loses up to 30% of its mass
in just 1 month, while micro/nanoplastic particles are formed by the process of photodegradation.
Improperly treated DSMs pose a potential hazardous risk to the environment due to the release of
micro/nanoparticles and chloride ion content.
Keywords: DSM, micro/nanoparticles, leaching, artificial weathering, environmental pollution
Published in DKUM: 26.03.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 6
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10. Obtaining medical textiles based on viscose and chitosan/zinc nanoparticles with improved antibacterial properties by using a dielectric barrier dischargeMatea Korica, Ana Kramar, Zdenka Peršin Fratnik, Bratislav M. Obradović, Milorad Kuraica, Biljana Dojčinović, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Mirjana M. Kostić, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: This study aimed to obtain functional viscose textiles based on chitosan coatings with
improved antibacterial properties and washing durability. For that reason, before functionalization
with chitosan/zinc nanoparticles (NCH+Zn), the viscose fabric was modified by nonthermal gas
plasma of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) to introduce into its structure functional groups suitable
for attachment of NCH+Zn. NCH+Zn were characterized by measurements of hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential and AFM. DBD-plasma-modified and NCH+Zn-functionalized fabrics were
characterized by zeta potential measurements, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, the calcium acetate method
(determination of content of carboxyl and aldehyde groups), SEM, breaking-strength measurements,
elemental analysis, and ICP-OES. Their antibacterial activity was determined under dynamic contact
conditions. In addition to SEM, the NCH+Zn distributions on viscose fabrics were also indirectly characterized by measuring their absorbent capacities before and after functionalization with NCH+Zn.
Washing durability was monitored through changes in the zeta potential, chitosan and zinc content,
and antibacterial activity after 1, 3, and 5 washing cycles. The obtained results showed that DBD
plasma modification contributed to the simultaneous improvement of NCH+Zn sorption and antibacterial properties of the viscose fabric functionalized with NCH+Zn, and its washing durability,
making it suitable for the production of high-value-added medical textiles.
Keywords: medical textiles, antibacterial properties, viscose, chitosan/zinc nanoparticles, dielectric barrier discharge
Published in DKUM: 26.03.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 7
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