Abstract
The effects of additives on the strength of hydrogel, consisting of water and hydrophilic polymer produced by crosslinked polyacrylic acid and cellulose derivatives, and its applicability to wound dressing are examined. The hydrogel was produced by crosslinking hydrophilic polymer with aluminum, and it was found that the gel strength could be controlled by the amount of sodium edetate (EDTA) added as the chelating agent. Using the hydrogel samples at different strengths, the effects of the gel strength on the recovery of open wounds of rat dorsal skin were examined. Them was no significant difference in the wound area between the group receiving application of the agent at swelled gel strength of 0.54 g/cm2, and the control group. However, the wound area was significantly decreased within 3 days after application of the agent at swelled gel strength of between 2.99 g/cm2 and 3.50 g/cm2, compared to that of the control group, indicating enhancement of recovery. Physicochemical characteristics that influence to wound healing, of 4 commercially available hydrogel or hydrocolloid wound-dressing materials, of which the clinical effects had been confirmed, and a hydrogel wound-dressing material (SG-01) were examined when these materials were involved in recovery of wounds. The adhesion, vapor permeability, and oxygen permeability of SG-01 were within the range of the 4 commercially available materials. The water absorbability and its volume of SG-01, which are related to retention of exudate, were the highest in the 4 commercially available materials at all time points of measurement. These findings suggested that the hydrogel, consisting of polyacrylic acid and cellulose derivatives, at swelled gel strength of 3∼4g/cm2, is a new wound-dressing material with the good function of exudate retention.
