title: Wound dressing with sustained anti-microbial capability.
abstract: To overcome current limitations in wound dressings for treating mustard-burn induced septic wound injuries, a nonadherent wound dressing with sustained anti-microbial capability has been developed. The wound dressing consists of two layers: the upper layer is a carboxymethyl-chitin hydrogel material, while the lower layer is an anti-microbial impregnated biomaterial. The hydrogel layer acts as a mechanical and microbial barrier, and is capable of absorbing wound exudate. In physiological fluid, the carboxymethylated-chitin hydrogel swells considerably, imbibing up to 4 times its own weight of water and is also highly porous to water vapor. The moisture permeability of the dressing prevents the accumulation of fluid in heavily exudating wounds seen in second-degree burns. The lower layer, fabricated from chitosan acetate foam, is impregnated with chlorhexidine gluconate. From the in vitro release studies, the loading concentration was optimized to deliver sufficient anti-microbial drug into the wound area to sustain the anti-microbial activity for 24 h. The anti-microbial activity of the dressing against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus was tested using the Bauer-Kirby Disk Diffusion Test.
authors.affiliation: DSO National Laboratories, 20 Science Park Drive, P.O. Box 118230, Republic of Singapore. lwengkeo@dso.org.sg
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Loke
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khor
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Sum
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001458:Bandages; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D048271:Chitosan; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008422:Materials Testing; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009150:Mustard Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D014867:Water; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D020100:Hydrogels; D009150:Mustard Compounds; D014867:Water; D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan