A method of manufacturing hydrogel dressings from synthetic and natural polymers by polymerization and cross-linking involves pouring aqueous solutions of synthetic polymers, such as polyacrylamide and polyvinylpyrolidone, their monomers or their mixtures, natural polymers, such as gelatine or agar, or their mixtures and, possibly, plasticizing agents, such as poly/ethylene glycol/, poly/propylene glycol/ and silicone oils, of the following composition: 2-20 percent by weight of synthetic polymers, not more than 5 percent by weight of natural polymers, not less than 75 percent by weight of distilled water and 1-3 percent by weight of plasticizing agent, into a mould imparting a shape to the dressing, tightly closing in that mould and subjecting to an ionizing radiation dose not smaller than 25 kGy.

Method of manufacturing hydrogel dressings

The present invention provides a wound treating agent in powder form based on a swellable organic polymer, which comprises a cross-linked polymer of a hydrophilic acrylic or methacrylic acid derivative, which polymer is permeated by a gellable polysaccharide and/or protein or polypeptide, the agent being obtainable by polymerizing a hydrophilic acrylic or methacrylic acid derivative in the presence of a dissolved, gellable polysaccharide and/or protein or polypeptide and of a cross-linking agent. The present invention also provides a process for the production of this wound treating agent, wherein a hydrophilic acrylic or methacrylic acid derivative is polymerized in an aqueous solution of a gellable polysaccharide and/or protein or polypeptide in the presence of a cross-linking agent and of a conventional polymerization initiator, to give a transparent gel which is dried and pulverized.

Wound treating agent

Means for removing microorganisms from tissue, such as mucous membranes, skin and wound tissue, which means comprises at least one protein or fragment(s) or residue(s) thereof which can be bound to the microorganisms, and optionally a carrier to which the protein(s) or the fragment(s) or residue(s) thereof is bound. The invention further concerns use of protein(s) or fragment(s) thereof for removing of microorganisms from tissue.

Means for removing microorganisms from tissue

An apparatus and method is described for applying epidermal growth factor (EGF) for achieving healing enhancement at a wound site. The human source of epidermal growth factor, designated as hEGF, is applied from the synthetic resin matrix system of this invention, and which comprises a polymer, such as poly(2-hydroxyl ethyl methyl methacrylate), referred to as PHEMA, an organic solvent, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), and a hydrogen binding plasticizer, such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The plasticizer regulates the set-up time of the synthetic resin, so that the more plasticizer present, the shorter the set-up time. The dressing, once formed, and having the healing enhancer contained therein, may be sealed within various backing sheets, in order to preserve its aseptic condition. When ready for use, one of the backing sheets may be peeled away to expose the resin pad with the embodied healing enhancer, ready for application to the wound site.

Synthetic resin matrix system incorporating healing enhancer

Rapid dressing (I) (plaster) for wounds comprises: (a) a wound healing active agent; (b) a textile fabric or plastic film carrier; (c) a (I)-containing wound covering layer of specific weight 50-1200 g/m ; and (d) a removable covering film. (I) comprises 2-1000 wt.% (based on the covering material) of a mixture of: (i) 50-100 wt.% polysaccharide (PS) hydrocolloid and/or hydrogel; and (ii) 0-50 wt.% additives. PS is of natural, biotechnological and/or semi-synthetic type, and optionally modified. (I) is dried by thermal energy from microwaves and optionally heated gases and/or IR radiation to a residual water content of 0.1-50 wt.%, such that PS is dried homogeneously and with retention of the initial molecular weight. (I) is homogeneously distributed in layer (b) and/or provided as a removable covering film on (b).

Rapid dressing for wounds, used to improve environment of wound

Transparent liq. dressing, esp. for wounds, comprises a hydrophilic organic transparent gel in sheet or tape form, swollen with an aq. soln. The dressing may be reinforced with a string or net-like reinforcing agent. The aq. soln. used to swell the gel may contain buffers, wound treatment agents, nutrients and/or growth agents. Healing progress of the wound visually without removing the dressing. When it becomes necessary to change it, the old dressing can be removed easily without damage to the new tissue forming underneath. The gels are also useful as cell culture media. Pref. the gel consists of a mixt. of a hydrophilic polymer (I) and >=1 high molecular gel-forming substance. Esp. useful gels are comprised of a gel-forming polysaccharide and/or a protein or polypeptide, and a polymer of a hydrophilic (meth)acrylic acid deriv. made by polymerisation in the presence of the gel-forming substance. Suitable gel-forming substances are e.g., agarose and gelatin.

Transparent liq. gels e.g. of hydrophilic acrylic! polymer and gelatin - useful as wound dressings, esp. for burns and ulcers, and as cell culture media

Botho Kickhoefen

Papers

Transparent liq. gels e.g. of hydrophilic acrylic! polymer and gelatin - useful as wound dressings, esp. for burns and ulcers, and as cell culture media