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    Biomaterials

    (D-126) Analysis of a Chitosan Wound Care Device for Use in Negative Wound Pressure Therapy

    Thursday, October 12, 2023
    9:30 AM – 10:30 AM PDT
    Location: Exhibit Hall - Row D - Poster # 126

      Presenting Author(s)

    • Haley Pruitt

      Graduate Student
      University of Memphis
      Lakeland, Tennessee, United States

      • Co-Author(s)

    • AW

      Andrew Watson

      Graduate Student
      University of Memphis, United States

      • Primary Investigator(s)

    • JB

      Joel Bumgardner

      Professor
      University of Memphis, United States

    Introduction::

    Negative wound pressure therapy (NWPT) systems aid in optimizing wound healing through the application of sub-atmospheric pressure promoting granulation tissue and reducing inflammation. Sub-atmospheric pressure can be applied to the wound dressing system continuously or intermittently at different pressures, which provides positive pressure to the surface of the wound2. NWPT can be used to manage many chronic and acute wounds1. The NWPT system consists of an open-pore foam, semi-occlusive adhesive cover, fluid collection system, and suction pump3.  




    Some wounds require an additional wound dressing between the foam of the NWPT device and the patient’s wound. The aim of this work was to test the compatibility of a commercial chitosan advanced wound care device (Sentrex Biosponge, BioNova Medical, Inc, TN) using a flesh analogue model to simulate worst-case clinical use conditions. The compatibility of the membranes with the system was evaluated at a maximum and minimum pressure by comparing the pressures generated with and without the chitosan wound dressing and the amount of the fluid collected.  




    Materials and Methods::


    In this experiment, a salted pork belly was used as a flesh analog to test fluid flow and pressure through a chitosan membrane over 72 hours. Before testing, the pork belly was desalted by soaking in deionized water overnight. Then, a large circular wound was made in the tissue and filled with an open-cell foam that had a pressure tube in the center. The flesh analog was covered with an adhesive cover and then covered with a vacuum nozzle. The vacuum nozzle was connected to the suction pump and fluid collection system. Once the flesh analog was set up, the pressure chamber was filled with 75% phosphate buffered saline and 25% bovine serum supplemented with 10X antibiotics.  




     




    Testing was conducted at maximum (-200 mmHg) or minimum pressure (-25 mmHg) for 72 hours:  






    • Group 1 Control (n=3): Foam alone with continuous suction at -200 mmHg 










    • Group 2 Control (n=3): Foam alone with intermittent suction from 0 to -200 mmHg 




    • Group 3 (n=3): Chitosan Wound Care Device under Foam with continuous suction at -200 mmHg 




    • Group 4 (n=3): Chitosan Wound Care Device under Foam with intermittent suction from 0 to -200 mmHg 







    Pressure and fluid collection was recorded every 12 hours to determine the compatibility of the electrospun chitosan membranes with the negative wound pressure therapy system. 




    Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: Maximum pressure was recorded for groups one through four. Results are shown in Figure 1, for maximum pressure readings from control and test groups recorded at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours. Maximum pressure readings were similar between control groups and experimental groups with chitosan dressing for both continuous and intermittent conditions.
    Figure 2 shows fluid collection for one membrane from group 1, group 2, group 3, and group 4. Fluid collection was similar across groups which indicates the addition of the chitosan membrane did not affect the amount of fluid that was collected over 72 hours at maximum pressure.  

    Pressure and fluid collection were similar between testing and control groups using the NWPT device. Similar pressure between the groups indicates that the addition of the chitosan membrane did not cause a significant increase or decrease in pressure. Similar fluid collection between the groups indicates that the addition of the chitosan membrane did not cause a significant increase or decrease in fluid collection. Similarities between fluid collection and pressure show that the addition of the chitosan membrane did not affect performance of the NWPT system. Testing is still in progress with control and experimental groups being repeated at minimum pressure (-25 mmHg) to determine if lower pressure affects performance of the NWPT system.  




    The fluid collection cannisters contained gel packets which prevented the exact amount of fluid collection from being determined, but continuous and intermittent testing groups did not exceed the 500 mL limit. The flesh analogs used were different: some were more lean meat while others had more fat. Therefore, each flesh analog was fenestrated before testing, which may explain why fluid collection is slightly different or similar across groups. A physical change in the tissue was noticed after 72 hours, where the tissue had dried out and pulled together, but the test membranes were still intact. Overall, adding the advanced wound care devices did not hinder the pressure or performance of the NWPT system.  



     


    Acknowledgements (Optional): : Experiment performed with Bionova Medical in Germantown, TN.

    References (Optional): :

    1. Capobianco C.M, Zgonis T. An overview of negative pressure wound therapy for the lower extremity. Clin Podiatr Med Surg 2009; 26:619.  




    2. Watson, Blass. An Analysis of a Chitosan and Glycosaminoglycan Advanced Wound Care Device and its Suitability for Use in the Presence of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy.  




    3. Venturi M.L, Attinger C.E., Mesbahi A.N., et al. Mechanisms and clinical applications of the vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) Device: a review. Am J Clin Dermatol 2005; 6:185.