Production-based Solution for Interactive Healthcare Apparels: Biomedical Applications for Topical Wound Healing

Chitosan, which is a naturally occurring polysaccharide, is known to be a promising component with effective antimicrobial and interactive wound healing properties. However, limitations in the conventional spinning process have restricted the production of chitosan textiles for the development of wound repairing apparels, bedsheets and other textile-based wound care products. Therefore, in scholarly circles, the study of wound healing has mainly focused on nonwoven fabrics and limited attention has been paid to the alleviation of wound conditions on a daily basis by applying chitosan knitted textiles.

This study serves as a pilot study associating chitosan knitted fabrics with an interactive wound healing function. Chitosan/cotton blended yarns with different chitosan ratios (5/95 chitosan/cotton and 10/90 chitosan/cotton) were initially spun using the anti-static spinning process and knitted fabrics were made with these yarns. Biological studies, which include an in vitro cell study of dermal repair and animal study of wound healing, were conducted. Significant wound healing ability could be shown even when the yarns consisted of low chitosan ratios. It is believed that the study could provide a new production-based solution for the development of interactive wound healing materials as well as realize the concept of manufacturing topical wound repairing apparel.