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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #251441
Title: Absorption and swelling characteristics of silver (I) antimicrobial wound dressings

Author
item Parikh, Dharnidhar
item Fink, Thomas
item De Lucca Ii, Anthony
item PARIKH, ASHISH - St Barnabas Medical Center

Submitted to: Textile Research Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/8/2010
Publication Date: 3/1/2011
Citation: Parikh, D.V., Fink, T.J., De Lucca II, A.J., Parikh, A.D. 2011. Absorption and swelling characteristics of silver (I) antimicrobial wound dressings. Textile Research Journal. 81(5):494-503.

Interpretive Summary: Microbes are minute organisms, but can cause allergenic responses, disease, infection, objectionable odors, and unsightly stains. To control microbe growth, which in turn controls the above effects, we decided to impart antimicrobial properties to alginate moist wound dressings. The present paper discusses important characteristics of moist wound alginate dressings of their ability to swell and absorb exudates from the wounds, while maintaining a moist atmosphere at the wound site. This has been an ongoing work: earlier we had determined the absorption of saline solution (0.9% NaCl) g/g of the fiber, and antimicrobial properties. In this manuscript, our coauthor Tom Fink, who is an excellent optical and electron microscopist, has determined the diameters of swollen fibers; and swelling in diameter is correlated with saline absorption and antimicrobial properties.

Technical Abstract: An important characteristic of moist wound dressings is their ability to swell and absorb exudates from the wound, while maintaining a moist atmosphere at the wound site. At the Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC), we have previously developed antimicrobial silver-sodium-carboxymethylated (CM)-cotton printcloth from the sodium salt of CM-cotton, and silver-Ca-Na alginates from four commercially available alginate moist wound dressings. As an ongoing research of silver antimicrobials, this report delineates the swellabilty of these silver antimicrobial dressings compared to commercially available calcium-sodium alginate dressings and printcloth (controls) in water and in 0.9% sodium chloride solution (saline) after 8 hours and after one week of immersion. Additionally, the swelling characteristics are correlated with the absorption of saline g/g of the dressing. Silver treated Sorbsan, Kaltostat, Curasorb, Algisite, and cotton- CM- printcloth showed a very significant increase in diameter of the fibers: NaCl 8hr. > water 8 hr. > dry, albeit slightly less than the control alginate dressings. The majority of the swelling took place in the first eight hours of wetting, and continued wetting for one week caused little additional uptake of the solution. Fibers swell only in diameter and not in length. All the fibers had greater swelling in saline as compared with those in water. The proven swellabilty of these silver dressings, taken together with the known absorptive and antimicrobial properties of the dressings should make them ideal for treatment of exudative wounds that are at risk for infection. As more is learned about these dressings, clinical trials may be warranted to evaluate their efficacy.