Composite wound-care products

Many other types of composite wound-care products have also emerged. In general, these products are composed of three key components the wound contact layer, the functional layer, and the retention layer. Figure 7.4 shows a schematic illustration of modem composite wound-care products. 

Figure lA A schematic illustration of modem composite wound-care products. 

In a very creative fashion, Hu and Catchmark [140] developed bioabsorbable cellulose nanocomposites by integration of cellulases into BC membranes (Figure 2.17). Considering the harmless effect of the main product of the enzymatic degradation of cellulose, glucose, these composites may be perfect for specific wound care and tissue engineering applications where the bioabsorbable character is crucial. 

The first exploratory investigation on the use of bacterial cellulose as a liquid-loaded pad for wound care was performed by Johnson and Johnson in the early 1980s. Bacterial cellulose composites blended with chitosan, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and gelatin were tested for potential biomedical applications, and the products look like a foam in structure. Cell adhesion studies showed that these composite products have a greater biocompatibility than pure bacterial cellulose. 

Filament winding has been used to provide a protective laminate on the outside of steel pressure pipes where external corrosion can take place. An example of this use is in the protection of the splash zone of steel riser pipes used on sea based oil and gas production platforms. Here, care has to be taken in the design of such a composite structure since the coefficient of expansion of the filament wound glass wrap can be lower than that of the steel core. If such a composite structure is produced using a heat cured resin system (say 120°C cure) and then subjected to subzero temperatures... 

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