4 research outputs found
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Developing new interface materials for wound care applications
The aim of my PhD project was the development of novel hydrogels for wound care applications using autoclave-mediated cross-linking in the polymer mixtures. Transparent, bubble-free and flat hydrogels were produced. The two polymers that gave the best results and therefore were used to continue the work, were poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(methyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride), which is also known as Gantrez® AN. These dressings were then fully characterised. We took advantage of the
fact that the autoclaving step allowed the gelation in a controlled way, to synthesise another class of hydrogel materials known as ‘superporous’ hydrogels (SPH), whose production usually involves the use of complicated set up and the addition of initiators and cross-linkers. We developed a straightforward method composed of few simple steps to synthesise SPHs of different shapes and
thicknesses from aqueous mixtures of PVA and Gantrez® AN. These materials and their physicochemical properties were then investigated. Using the same combination of polymers again it was also possible to produce physically cross-linked hydrogels applying a slightly modified version of
the well-known freeze-thawing technique. The cryogels produced were studied and their properties were compared with those of the autoclaved (chemically cross-linked) samples. We developed three new wound dressing prototypes and two novel methods for the synthesis of hydrogels and SPHs that could make a difference, not just in the wound management sector. New products, but above all an
innovative and environmentally-friendly approach to biomaterials manufacturing can derive from our work at Reading School of Pharmacy. From the method of synthesis of the materials we present in this thesis, to their extensive characterisation, our work aimed to give a valid and useful contribution to the wound management
field
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Hydrogels in wound management
One of the most prevalent applications of hydrogels is wound management. Thanks to their high water content and unique physical properties, hydrogels could potentially resemble biological tissues including human skin. (Peppas et al. 2000, Gupta et al. 2010, Caló & Khutoryanskiy 2014, Jones et al. 2006) There is active interest in the development of new and advanced hydrogel-based products from both an academic and industrial perspective. In fact, hydrogels exhibit many characteristics of the ‘ideal’ wound dressing. These include: the capability of maintaining a moist environment at the wound site allowing gas exchange (moisture vapour transmission), biocompatibility, fast absorption of wound exudate, protection of newly formed or delicate skin and easy and relatively painless dressing removal. (Thomas 1990, Gupta et al. 2010, Vowden & Vowden 2014, Boateng & Catanzano 2015) In this Chapter we will provide the reader with an overview of the most recent hydrogel materials designed for wound management
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Biomedical applications of hydrogels: a review of patents and commercial products
Hydrogels have become very popular due to their unique properties such as high water content, softness, flexibility and biocompatibility. Natural and synthetic hydrophilic polymers can be physically or chemically cross-linked in order to produce hydrogels. Their resemblance to living tissue opens up many opportunities for applications in biomedical areas. Currently, hydrogels are used for manufacturing contact lenses, hygiene products, tissue engineering scaffolds, drug delivery systems and wound dressings. This review provides an analysis of their main characteristics and biomedical applications. From Wichterle’s pioneering work to the most recent hydrogel-based inventions and products on the market, it provides the reader with a detailed introduction to the topic and perspective on further potential developments