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Various Forms of Crosslinked Dextran Gel as Surface Wound Covering Materials
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
Abstract
Dextran and its crosslinked beads have many biomedical applications. If stirring to maintain the epichlorohydrin emulsion is stopped in about 7 minutes, crosslinked dextran gel sheets can be prepared. The elastic sheet obtained after washing in water, followed by treatment with propylene glycol containing 15% isopropanol is suitable as a covering on rodent skin wound. Antibacterial agents can be dispersed into the sheet or admixed in the paste form of the gel.
In standard tests, a 4 cm × 4 cm surface wound on the back of a 400-g Wistar rat was covered with the dextran gel material. The evaporation loss was found to reduce immediately from 94 mg H20/cm2/hr to 1/2 of this value which became 12.5 mg H20/cm2hr in 18 hours. Such a covered wound healed in 10–17 days with 10–15% distortion, while the controls were delayed to 25 ± 7 days with >65% wound contraction.
Another modification of the gel material involves the surface attachment of the positively charged 2-diethylaminoethyl function (DEAE). Although up to 2.41 mM DEAE groups/g gel can be introduced, only <10% is on the gel surface. Tests with mouse 3T3 fibroblists showed 5 that it was possible to increase the cell binding from 9 × 103 to 2 × 105 cells/cm2. Therefore, the gel material may have potential as a substrate for dermal cells as well for later transfer.
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- Copyright © Materials Research Society 1988