Speaker
Description
Each year, the global wine industry generates approximately 12 million tons of grape waste (pomace), which poses a significant environmental threat due to the presence of residual chemicals from grape cultivation and winemaking. These chemicals can leach into soil and water, increasing soil acidity and contaminating groundwater. Our project aims to address this issue by repurposing grape waste into a valuable material for the medical field.
In response to the growing problem of chronic wound infections and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, we developed a novel method to create antibacterial socks by combining grape waste materials with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Silver nanoparticles are known for their strong antibacterial properties, and our approach offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method of integrating them into textiles.
The antibacterial effectiveness of the socks was tested at the Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. The socks were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans, showing significant inhibition of bacterial growth.
This innovation holds particular promise for medical applications, such as wound care for diabetic patients, where infection prevention is essential for healing. Additionally, our method reduces production costs and environmental impact compared to conventional techniques like UV treatment, making it a sustainable and affordable solution.
This project demonstrates how agricultural waste can be transformed into high-value medical products, contributing to both environmental sustainability and public health.
Keywords: silver nanoparticles, grape pomace, impregnated socks, antibacterial
properties, wound healing, reducing waste
