Synthesizing Antimicrobial and Oxygen Permeable Films for Improved Wound Healing

Overview

Many believe that open wounds should be able to “breathe”, that they should not be covered so they can heal better and not be suffocated by the bandage. However, there have been countless studies that show how keeping an open wound uncovered creates a dry environment that causes cells to die. But, there is one gas that helps accelerate healing: oxygen. Oxygen is key because it helps produce energy that aids the body with bacterial defense, cell proliferation, and collagen synthesis. Antimicrobial substances are also essential in the wound healing process because they help prevent chronic wounds. Thus, the aim of this project was to create an antimicrobial, oxygen permeable film that can be placed in bandages to help deter infections and allow only oxygen to the wound without drying the skin. In today’s society there are no bandages and only a handful of wound dressings that are both antimicrobial and oxygen permeable. The film itself was made from the monomer triazole acrylate(TA). The synthesis for TA was through a modified Michael Addition with triazole and methyl. It was hypothesized that Iodobutane would bind to the film because the monomor Triazole Acrylate provided the bonding sites for the Iodobutane molecules to attach too. Iodobutane is known to be oxygen permeable and to have antimicrobial effects as it is extremely similar to iodomethane in that its polymer composition allows it to bond to the same substances with a longer half-life. Thus, Iodobutane was tested as a post-polymerization modification to the film that was created.The films were made through modifications of standard shape memory polymer (SMP) formulations with different concentrations of triazole acrylate. After the films were made, the final step was to bind the Iodobutane to the films. This was done by first modifying the monomer with Hydrochloric and Acetic Acid, and then Iodobutane. Through NMR analysis, both the acids and Iodobutane successfully bonded to the monomer. The final step was to bind Iodobutane to the films. To do this, the same procedure was followed for the model study, only replacing the monomer with the film. Overall, the results from the FTIR and NMR analysis show that Iodobutane has the ability to bind with the monomer Triazole Acrylate. The binding itself is a step forward to achieving the antimicrobial, oxygen permeable films, which are crucial to wound healing. The films will have better effects than wound dressings, because they are more efficient and convenient as they would be smaller and more compact.

Competition history

• AJAS 2020 Category not listed

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