Textile structures for the treatment of burn wounds – characterization of elastic and antibacterial properties

Abstract

The paper shows the elastic and antibacterial features of the textile structures (Layer I and III) which make up a three-layer composite material with well-defined features, aimed at the treatment of human burns. The textile structures obtained through weaving (5 variants) and interweaving (3 variants) were further treated with active substances: collagen, colloidal silver, CMC, clay, hyaluronic acid, polyurethane, etc. By using specialized software, fundamental statistical indicators were calculated for the modulus of elasticity and anisotropy variables: mean, dispersion and standard deviation, median and quartiles, skewness, and kurtosis for asymmetry and highlighting the cases in which interventions should be carried out. The histograms and box-plot graphs of the modulus of elasticity and anisotropy variables were obtained. For the functionalized textile structures, with different levels of anisotropy, the antibacterial activity was evaluated on Gram-positive microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 8739) and Candida albicans, variety ATCC 10231 by determining the logarithmic and percentage reduction of microorganism populations. The hemocompatibility was determined by evaluating the hemolytic index (ASTM F756-13). The results obtained led to the definition of the combinations of structures of the multilayer matrix.