Development of a Synthetic Polymer Burn Covering.
Abstract
In a study on the development of a synthetic polymer burn covering, polylactic acid, polyepsiloncaprolactone, and lactic/glycolic copolymer have been synthesized. In order to observe their adherence qualities, these polymers plus nylon, saran, urethane, Epigard, human skin, and rat skin have been applied to fully excised sections on the back of a rat. Also measured were water vapor transmission rates, Young's moduli, and ultimate elongations for the synthetic polymers and freeze dried skin. It is concluded that insensible water loss from a burn wound area can be successfully controlled using either films of polylactic acid and polyepsiloncaprolactone or commercially available films. A polymer film without some structure does not provide spaces into which fibroblasts can grow; hence, there has been no graft animal adherence of any of the flat films tested. A MACROSTRUCTURE, SUCH AS A FOAM OR VELOUR (Epigard) is necessary to promote good fibroblast growth to create a viable interface between the graft and the animal. (AF-PL)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 08, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0761631