Chemical characterization and in vitro antimicrobial evaluation of phytocannabinoid-loaded polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) reinforced with natural fibers

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a widely used biomedical structural polymer; however, its surface susceptibility to microbial colonization remains a functional limitation. Incorporation of bioactive natural compounds into PMMA matrices may offer a strategy to enhance antimicrobial performance without altering polymer integrity. This study aimed to chemically characterize and evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial performance of PMMA composites incorporating phytocannabinoid fractions in combination with hemp fiber (HF) and silk fibroin (SF). Phytocannabinoids were isolated using supercritical CO₂ extraction followed by chromatographic purification. PMMA composites containing HF, SF, and cannabinoid fractions were fabricated and characterized using ATR-FTIR and XRD analyses to assess structural integrity. Antimicrobial performance against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus was evaluated using MTT assay and SEM imaging. Cytotoxicity was assessed via LDH assay on Beas2B cells. ATR-FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed successful incorporation of phytocannabinoid fractions without disruption of the PMMA polymer backbone. Cannabinoid-loaded composites demonstrated significantly reduced bacterial viability compared with control PMMA (p<0.05). The combination of HF/SF and cannabinoid fractions exhibited enhanced antibiofilm performance. Cytotoxicity levels remained below 5% across all modified formulations. Phytocannabinoid incorporation into PMMA-based natural fiber composites enhances in vitro antimicrobial performance while preserving chemical integrity and biocompatibility. These findings support further investigation of phytocannabinoid-enriched PMMA composites as potential antimicrobial biomaterial platforms.