β-Chitin/Chitosan Obtained from Loligo and Humboldt Squids Effectiveness as Wound Dressing Material

A number of materials are utilized to develop wound care dressing materials with metallic treatments such as ionic silver and zinc. Metallic ions if used for a prolonged time may lead to toxicity. Alternatively chitin,a natural polysaccharide found in nature, is utilized. It is found in fungi, crabs, mushrooms,squids, octopus, and many other living organisms. Chitin has similar structure to cellulose but its deacetylated derivate chitosan has amine groups that provide potential antibacterial properties along with a number of other advantages. Chitin in its natural form is found in three different structural forms,namely α,β,and γ.The β-chitin and chitosan are mostly found in the exoskeleton of squids. Loligo and Humboldt squids were studied. It is anticipated that Humboldt chitin is more effective in serving as antibacterial material and can be utilized for wound care. Differences in steriochemical structure were observed among β-chitin structures obtained and amine group's presences were found along with ability of materials to swell.

Fabrication and Tissue Anchoring Performance of Nylon and Polypropylene Barbed Surgical Sutures

Barbed surgical sutures have attracted worldwide attention in recent years. The plurality of barbs projecting out and penetrating into surrounding tissue eliminates the need for tying a knot. In the current study,nylon and polypropylene( PP) barbed sutures with two different barb geometries designed to anchor in porcine skin and tendon tissues were fabricated by a specially designed mechanical cutting machine. The tensile properties were compared between the barbed and unbarbed control sutures. The in vitro tissue anchoring ability was measured by two tissue /suture pullout tests,one for skin and the other for tendon tissue. Regardless of the type of tissue,the PP barbed suture with its higher modulus had a superior anchoring ability. Given the same suture material,improved anchoring performance was shown in tendon tissue.

Novel Elastomeric Fabrics for the Treatment of Hypertrophic Burn Scars Using Polyhexamethylene Biguanide Antimicrobial Agents

In burn treatments,microorganisms on pressure garments during pressure therapy can prevent rehabilitation by causing functional,hygienic,and aesthetic difficulties. As bacterium is one of the most trouble-causing organisms,they can threaten patients causing infection during the long period of use of these garments.Novel burn pressure garments having durable antimicrobial property were developed using polyhexamethylene biguanide( PHMB)antimicrobial agent procedure on highly elastic nylon 66 /spandex fabrics in powernet,flat warp and weft knitted structures using paddry-cure method. Commercial wireless pressure sensors were used to control pressures at an acceptable medical range. Antimicrobial activity,wash durability,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) analyses were conducted for the treated samples. Antimicrobial test results following AATCC 100 Test Method showed 99% reduction of bacteria for the fabric samples treated with PHMB. A small but significant decrease in antimicrobial activity was observed even after50 launderings. These treatments also yield good results to prevent odor,decrease infection by preventing and /or blocking microbial growth according to the antimicrobial mechanism and support reducing of scarring by providing a hygienic environment around the scar.

Preparation and Mechanical Performance of Blended Polyester/Silk Small Diameter Arterial Prostheses

Small diameter arterial prostheses were required to treat coronary and cerebrovascular arterial diseases. The diameters of the artificial blood vessels should match the diameters of the host arteries. Besides,the mechanical properties of the arterial prostheses should be strong enough to endure the forces in the body after implantation. In this study,silk and polyester were woven into small diameter arterial prostheses and the dimensional and mechanical properties,as well as the water permeability,were investigated. The woven samples had an inner diameter ranging from 3. 65 to 3. 94mm. The wall thickness of the samples ranged from 0. 26 to 0. 28mm. Compared with polytetrafiuoroethylene( ePTFE) commercial devices,whose probe bursting strength was measured to be 15. 64 N /mm2,the woven samples had superior strength values ranging from20. 53 to 28. 97 N /mm2. In addition,the radial compliance of the woven samples was found to lie between the ePTFE sample and the pig's carotid artery,and the water permeability of all the woven samples was less than 300 mL /( cm2·min) which indicated that these woven samples could be implanted without preclotting.