Iron-Coated Hemp Cellulose Fills PLA Nonwoven Fabrics with Antibacterial Function

Researchers have developed biodegradable nonwoven fabrics made of polylactic acid (PLA) filled with iron-coated microcrystalline cellulose, a functional filler derived from hemp, produced through a spun-bond process. The study, published in Polymer Bulletin, reports that the coated cellulose powder itself showed strong antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, while uncoated microcrystalline cellulose displayed only limited antibacterial effects.

According to the authors, iron was successfully deposited on the cellulose surface without significantly altering its chemical structure or thermal stability, although slight changes in crystallinity were observed.

When the coated filler was incorporated into PLA nonwoven composite fabrics, the fibers became slightly thinner and the material showed enhanced crystallization behavior, while thermal stability remained comparable to that of neat PLA. Mechanical performance, however, shifted with filler content: increasing the MCC/Fe loading led to a gradual decrease in both breaking force and elongation at break, a trade-off the authors note for composite design.

The antibacterial functionality carried over into the composites, but with an important limitation. The fabrics’ antibacterial effect was weaker than that of the MCC/Fe powder alone, and it was particularly limited against E. coli. The authors conclude that the material is best suited to applications where antibacterial action against S. aureus is desired, and they position MCC/Fe as a bio-based functional filler for sustainable antibacterial PLA nonwovens.

Subject of Research: Iron-coated hemp-derived microcrystalline cellulose as an antibacterial filler in PLA nonwoven composites

Article Title: Development of iron-coated microcrystalline cellulose-filled PLA nonwoven composites for antibacterial applications

Article References: Laobuthee, A., Sukthavorn, K., Chomchatwarl, T., Nootsuwan, N., Roungpaisan, N., & Veranitisagul, C. (2026). Development of iron-coated microcrystalline cellulose-filled PLA nonwoven composites for antibacterial applications. Polymer Bulletin, 83(12), Article 695. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-026-06749-z

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s00289-026-06749-z

Keywords: PLA, nonwoven composites, microcrystalline cellulose, iron coating, hemp, antibacterial, S. aureus, E. coli, spun-bond, biodegradable materials, sustainable materials, filler