EVALUATION OF SYNTHETIC FILMS AS WOUND COVERS.
Abstract
The aim of the investigation is to develop, from amino acid polymers prepared in clear colorless strong film form, a suitable synthetic substitute for human skin homograft. A polyamino acid film has been developed, this is a copolymer of two amino acids which appears as a water-white polypeptide film, has tensile strength of 4,500 p.s.i., is heat stable to 290 degrees C. and remains flexible at dry-ice temperatures. When bonded to a scaffolding material of fine mesh gauze or nylon velour material the polymer adheres readily to the excision site, does not crack, and serum and purulent material does not accumulate during the period of observation. Application of polymer film alone or polymer film laminated with either the cotton fine mesh gauze or nylon velour applied with the polymer adjacent to the wound, have shown little granulation response and failure to develop a neovasculature. These wounds were purulent and the mortality was high. When the same film was applied with the scaffolding material surface (i.e. fine mesh gauze or nylon velour) immediately adjacent to the wound even in the presence of large numbers of bacteria seeded onto the wound prior to application of the film, the wounds remained reasonably clean, an orderly granulation response developed, and a proliferative neovasculature was observed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 20, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0682751
Entities
People
- Arnold I. Walder
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University