Funcionalização de estruturas têxteis com aditivos naturais para materiais de penso desbridantes

Abstract

Wound debridement is one of the most important stages in the healing process. The most widely used methods today, such as mechanical, autolytic or even enzymatic or surgical debridement, present several associated problems, such as the appearance of damage to adjacent tissues, their high cost, and trauma to the patient. Functionalizing textile structures with natural additives represents a promising alternative for developing more effective and sustainable dressing materials. Several studies have shown that the use of natural substances can reduce the risk of allergic reactions and adverse side effects compared to the use of chemical additives. Tea tree oil has been a widely studied natural additive for aiding wound healing, due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This additive was explored in this study, and its anchoring to the textile substrate was supported by the use of a matrix of natural origin, alginate, selected for its absorbent properties and high biocompatibility. These additives were chosen for this work with the main aim of incorporating them into textile dressing material, assessing their possible use in wound debridement. By dispersing the oil in an aqueous alginate solution, the aim was to achieve homogeneous impregnation of the textile structures and a more controlled release. A pH-dependent release study was carried out to analyze the specific release in different wound microenvironments. The textile substrates were impregnated with the additives using Foulard technology, which was optimized in order to obtain a satisfactory pick-up of the additives, considering the intended application (use of the material while it was still wet for debridement). The results showed that the release of tea tree oil is faster at pH 8.7, with an oil concentration of 30%. These results were as intended, with greater oil release occurring in chronic wounds, which possess a more alkaline pH level.

Date of Award	4 Jun 2024
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Sponsors	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Supervisor	Maria Helena Pereira Vilaça (Supervisor)