Exploring the use of warp knitted spacer fabric as a substitute for absorbent layer in advanced wound dressing

Wound management has become more sophisticated as modern wound dressings now focus more on providing an optimal microclimate for wound healing. As a novel three-dimensional textile material, warp knitted spacer fabrics are versatile enough to meet special requirements when their parameters are changed. This paper reports on an experimental study on the required physical properties of warp knitted spacer fabrics which can be developed as an absorbent layer for advanced wound dressing. In this study, five wound dressings have been chosen which are especially used for ulcers and burns due to their good absorption of extrudes and cushioning effect. The physical properties of warp knitted spacer fabrics, including air permeability, thermal conductivity, water vapor permeability, absorbency and compression, are evaluated and compared with those of existing wound dressings. The results show that the air and water vapor permeabilities of warp knitted spacer fabrics are better than those of existing wound dressings. Also, the thermal conductivity of warp knitted spacer fabrics is competent enough to prove that spacer fabrics can also provide a good ventilated environment for wound healing. Their compressional resistance is as good as that of wound dressings and is even better than that of existing wound dressings. These indicate that warp knitted spacer fabrics can provide good protection as wound dressings, although its absorbency is only slightly better than some of the existing wound dressings, they are also good for wounds with no heavy extrudes.