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In recent decades, due to the increasing depletion of resources and global ecological awareness of the
Earth, there has been an increased interest in economically and ecologically friendly biomaterials and
recycling of raw material waste. Two synthetic vinyl ester resins were used in the presented research,
one of which is a commercial VER resin based on bisphenol A (BPA), and the other VPE is synthesized
from unsaturated polyester derived from PET recyclate. In both cases, styrene was a diluent and crosslinking
agent. Wood flour (WF) was used as a natural filler for the composites. The reinforcement of
polymer composites is due to the fact that the biofiller has advantages such as high strength, low cost,
low density, biodegradability and low water absorption. A positive effect of using this waste from the
wood industry is environmental friendliness. It is known that microorganisms survive for a long time on
"touch" surfaces. This can be particularly problematic in healthcare, where a patient’s immunity is at
greater risk of infection. Touch surfaces in hospital rooms can serve as a source or reservoir for bacterial
expansion. Nosocomial infection can occur in various ways, e.g. in hospitals, nursing homes and even
diagnostic laboratories. In the case of the tested composites obtained for the food, pharmaceutical and
medical industries, it is important that bacterial cells do not adhere to their surface and at the same
time are not toxic to eukaryotic cells. The antibacterial study assessed the inoculation of composites
with bacteria to create a biofilm on their surface. The antibiofilm effect of the composites was assessed
using an in vitro monospecies biofilm model against Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains. The results of bacterial adhesion to the surface of wood-resin composites were compared with bacterial
colonization of clean control materials and assessed using confocal microscopy imaging. Normal human
skin fibroblasts (BJ cells) were used to test for indirect cytotoxicity. BJ cell viability was assessed
using a colorimetric assay. The influence of WF content on the properties of composite materials was
determined. Comprehensive tests of mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical properties, hardness,
gloss, wettability and flammability of composites were carried out.
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