Medical Textiles and Biomaterials for Healthcare

Subhash C. Anand, J F Kennedy, M Miraftab, S. Rajendran

• Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
• Year: 2005
• Print ISBN: 9781855736832
• eBook ISBN: 9781845694104
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Medical Technology & Supplies

Medical textiles are a major growth area within the technical textiles industry and the range of applications continues to grow and increase in diversity with every new development. Recent innovations include novel chitosan-alginate fibres for advanced wound dressings, ultrasonic energy for bleaching cotton medical textiles, durable and rechargeable biocidal textiles, spider silk supportive matrix for cartilage regeneration, barbed bi-directional surgical sutures and intelligent textiles for medical applications.Medical textiles and biomaterials for healthcare is a culmination of the worldwide research into medical textiles and biomaterials. It is divided into eight parts covering the main areas of basic biomaterials, healthcare and hygiene products, infection control and barrier materials, bandaging and pressure garments, woundcare materials, implantable and medical devices and smart technologies. Each part contains a comprehensive overview written by leading experts in the area. The overviews are then followed by a selection of the best papers from the 2003 MEDTEX Conference, hosted by the University of Bolton. It has been extensively edited to produce what is expected to be the leading reference on this subject.- Discusses worldwide research into medical textiles and biomaterials- Invaluable reference for this developing area of technical textiles- A selection of the best papers from the 2003 MEDTEX Conference, hosted by University of Bolton are included

Part I

Biomaterials utilised in medical textiles

Outline

Chapter 1: BIOMATERIALS UTILISED IN MEDICAL TEXTILES: AN OVERVIEW

Chapter 2: NEW GENERATIONS OF RESORBABLE BIOMATERIALS WITH TEXTILE STRUCTURES

Chapter 3: REFORMED COLLAGEN FIBRES

Chapter 4: NOVEL CHITOSAN-ALGINATE FIBRES FOR ADVANCED WOUND DRESSINGS

Chapter 5: MODIFICATION OF ALGINIC ACID FIBRES WITH HYDROLYSED CHITOSANS

Chapter 6: THE EFFECT OF DEGRADATION ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BIODEGRADABLE POLYLACTIDE YARNS AND TEXTILES

Chapter 7: CHITOSAN: CRAWLING FROM CRAB SHELLS TO WOUND DRESSINGS

BIOMATERIALS UTILISED IN MEDICAL TEXTILES: AN OVERVIEW

J.F. Kennedy and C.J. Knill, Chembiotech Laboratories, Institute of Research & Development, University of Birmingham Research Park, Vincent Drive, Birmingham B15 2SQ, UK.

ABSTRACT

An overview of the classification of textile fibres (both natural and man-made) is provided, along with information on the chemical structures, forms and properties of biomaterials (natural and modified carbohydrate polymers and proteins) utilised in medical textiles. The major carbohydrate polymers (and their derivatives) discussed include cellulose, dextran, chitin, chitosan, alginate, and hyaluronan. The major protein discussed is collagen (and gelatin). Examples of commercial products composed of such biomaterials are also presented. Finally, the future of the medical textiles industry with respect to wound healing, controlled release, smart technologies, etc, is discussed.

TEXTILE FIBRES AND THEIR CLASSIFICATION

‘Textile’ originally applied to only woven fabrics, but now includes fibres, filaments and yarns made from natural and synthetic materials (and products utilising such raw materials)^[1]. Textile fibres are broadly classified as natural or man-made.

Natural Fibres

Natural fibres refer to fibres that occur naturally in nature, and are found in animals, vegetables and minerals, as detailed in Figure 1. Animal-derived proteinaceous fibres are divided into silk (protein filaments forming silkworm cocoons and wild silk fibres extruded by selected other insect larvae), wool (fibrous covering of sheep, Ovis aries), and hair (animal fibre other than silk or sheep’s wool), e.g. from alpaca (Lama pacos), camel (e.g. Camelus bactrianus), cow (common ox, Bos Taurus), goat (genus Capra, including mohair – angora goat, Capra hircus aegagrus, and cashmere – originally from the Asiatic goat, Capra hircus laniger), horse (Equus caballus), mink (Mustela (Lutreola) vison), angora rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), vicuna (Lama vicugna), etc^[1].

Figure 1 Classification of natural textile fibres ^[1].

Vegetable-derived fibres are subdivided into three classes, namely those isolated from seeds, bast, and leafs (Figure 1). Fibres can grow from the surfaces of some seeds and from the inner surfaces of some fruit cases or pods, and are formed by the marked elongation of epidermal cells. Cotton (from a wide variety of plants of the Gossypium family) is the most important natural seed fibre. Fibres from the bast layer of plants include flax (from Linum usitatissimum, used for making linen products), hemp (from Cannabis sativa), jute (from Corchorus capsularis and Corchorus olitorius), kenaf (from Hibiscus cannabinus), ramie (from the stems of Boehmeria nivea, which belongs to the Urticaceae or nettle family, and is in ribbon form and known as ‘China Grass’), etc ^[1]. Fibres from plant leaves include abaca fibre (also known as manila fibre, from Musa textilis). Mineral-derived fibres include asbestos (a generic name used to describe a family of naturally occurring fibrous hydrated silicates.

Man-made Fibres

Man-made textile fibres are those that do not occur in nature, although they may be composed of naturally occurring materials. They are classified into three groups, namely synthetic polymers, natural polymers, and ‘others’ (Figure 2). Synthetic polymers covers fibres manufactured from chemically synthesised polymers such as acrylics (polyacrylonitrile), chlorofibres (e.g. PVC), fluorofibres (e.g. PTFE), nylons (polyamides), polyesters, polyolefins (e.g. polyethylene), polyurethanes, PVA, etc ^[1].

Figure 2 Classification of man-made textile fibres ^[1]....

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Related titles
• Copyright
• EDITORS
• PREFACE
• Part I: Biomaterials utilised in medical textiles
• Part II: HeaIthcare and hygiene products
• Part III: Infection control and barrier materials
• Part IV: Bandaging and pressure garments
• Part V: Woundcare materials
• Part VI: Implantable devices
• Part VII: Medical devices
• Part VIII: Intelligent textiles for medical applications
• INDEX