The new material promotes wound healing through it containing a disinfectant that can assist with the healing of wounds and the treatment of burns. This is achieved through novel antibacterial packaging, which is based on a nanocomposite and which takes the form of a thin film.
The nanotechnology, Controlled Environments reports, allows for better mechanical, chemical, thermal and microbial properties compared with standard dressings. With the specific dressing, nanocellulose and antimicrobial zinc oxide nanoparticles have been used. The film takes the form of a cellulosic material and it is capable of slow release of the antimicrobial particles. The slow release is achieved through the use of three thin layers stacked on top of each other.
The packaging was inspired by the food industry. With food the design, materials and integrity of packaging is important in order to keep food fresh. By applying a design called “active pack” the wound dressing helps to stop microorganisms from the external environment getting into the wound.
The film also imparts durable properties to the dressing, allowing it to be worn for several days without needing to be changed.
With antimicrobial bandages it is important to assess their effectiveness. In order to assess the effectiveness of the coatings experimental data must be gathered to show that the chemical, in contact with the bandage, can reduce a known number of microorganisms and be effective against a range of different bacteria and fungi (especially clinically significant microorganisms).
The new packs have been experimentally assessed. It is interesting that the packs have been recently developed based on packaging used for foodstuff. Nanotechnology can improve the quality and efficiency of packaging and increase the safety of food.
The development was funded by the Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council. The new development is published in the journal Carbohydrate Polymers. The article is titled “Morphological, physical, antimicrobial and release properties of ZnO nanoparticles-loaded bacterial cellulose films.”
