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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 #224065
Title: Human neutrophil elastase inhibition with a novel cotton alginate wound dressing formulation

Author
item Edwards, Judson - Vince
item BOPP, A - SOUTHERN UNIV
item Batiste, Sarah
item Goynes, Wilton

Submitted to: Biomedical Materials Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2002
Publication Date: 1/31/2003
Citation: Edwards, J.V., Bopp, A.F., Batiste, S.L., Goynes, W.R. 2003. Human neutrophil elastase inhibition with a novel cotton alginate wound dressing formulation. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. 433-440.

Interpretive Summary: Chronic wounds are a major worldwide health problem. This research is directed at strengthening the role of cotton-based textiles in the growing market of high tech wound dressings. This paper demonstrates an important technology for development of value-added cotton-based wound dressings. Occlusive wound dressings containing a two-phase, modified cotton gauze and enzyme inhibitor would restore favorable conditions and a critical biochemical balance needed for healing chronic wounds. Cotton can be made into an elastic dressing having stretch properties. This paper focuses on the inhibition of the destructive enzyme elastase found in the chronic wound by a specific cotton bound inhibitor, which we term a fiber-inhibitor in combination with alginate. We report the use of the alginate-cotton dressing as combining the ideal properties of both the cotton and alginate.

Technical Abstract: Occlusion and elasticity were combined in a novel cotton-based alginate dressing containing a non-toxic elastase inhibitor. Cotton gauzes were modified with a textile finishing process for incorporating alginate to yield a dressing material that retains elasticity while enhancing absorption. The algino-cellulose conjugates were formed through citric acid crosslinking of cellulose and alginate. The alginate-citrate finishes were applied to cotton gauzes in various formulations containing citric acid, sodium hypophosphite, and polyethylene glycol. The modified gauzes contain a citrate conjugate of alginate and cellulose that gels upon hydration. The alginate-citrate finishes were combined with the neutrophil elastase inhibitor, oleic acid, to demonstrate the ability of the algino-cellulose fibers to release the inhibitor and neutralize destructively high levels of neutrophil elastase found in non-healing and burn wounds. Four types of gauzes were examined for the effect of the algino-cellulose finish on cotton gauze absorbency and elasticity. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of the film and alginate-citrate finished cotton showed formation of the alginate and citrate cellulose esters. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed large areas of the yarn surface covered by the alginate film with a smooth surface on the original fibers. Wetting of the gauze surface resulted in formation of a hydrated gel on the yarns with apparent swelling of the film and the fiber-coated alginate.