ARS | Publication request: Exploring Modifications of Cotton with Biopolymers

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: February 2, 2008
Publication Date: March 1, 2008
Citation: Edwards, J.V., Batiste, S.L., Howley, P.S., Arnold, J.W., Prevost, N.T., Sawhney, A.P. 2008. Exploring Modifications of Cotton with Biopolymers. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference.

Interpretive Summary: The development of cotton-based health care fabrics that promote blood clotting and prevent microbial growth have wide applicability in medical, military, and civilian clothing. The paper focuses on our initial efforts to characterize the rate of blood clotting and the antibacterial activity of chitosan-grafted cotton nonwoven samples. We contrast this biopolymer with microporous starch which has shown promise in accelerating clotting. The use of cotton to serve as a matrix to deliver these anticlotting biopolymers shows some promise that could lead to products useful for battlefield trauma both in dressings and clothing. This technology targets a rapidly growing market in military and medical textiles that weights heavily on value-added and high volume consumption of cotton for domestic use.

Technical Abstract: Biopolymers including starch, alginate, and chitosan were grafted on to both nonwoven and woven cotton fabrics to examine their hemostatic and antimcrobial properties. The development of cotton-based health care fabrics that promote blood clotting and prevent microbial growth have wide applicability in medical, military, and civilian clothing. As an example, micorporous starch polymer particles that perform as an absorbable hemostat in dry powder form were evaluated for their hemostatic performance when grafted to nonwoven cotton, and found to initiate clotting better than grafted amorphous starch.