Wound Dressing: New Adhesive Allows Painless Removal of Plasters

A new type of polymer enables pain-free removal of wound dressings. The adhesive for plasters adheres securely at body temperature, but can be removed painlessly and without residue at room temperature. The temperature-dependent adhesion is based on the change in the polymer structure.

Pulling off a plaster usually means grit your teeth and get through it. Most self-adhesive wound dressings are based on zinc oxide rubber adhesive - removing them can be painful, but can also re-injure healing tissue. There are currently no suitable dressings for allergy sufferers, burns or chronic wounds in diabetics, for example.

Scientists at the University of Stuttgart now want to close this gap in wound care. A newly developed polymer promises to change the often painful and problematic removal of wound dressings and initiate a paradigm shift in the treatment of acute and chronic wounds.

Temperature-Controlled Adhesion as a Core Function

At the heart of this development is a polymer with temperature-dependent properties. At body temperature, typically around 37°C, the material adheres firmly to the wound, ensuring that the dressing remains securely in place. However, if the temperature is lowered to around 25°C, the dressing can be removed easily, without pain or adhesive residue.

Dr. Lukas Siegner from the Institute of Interfacial Engineering and Plasma Technology IGVP at the University of Stuttgart explains: »Our polymer uses a precisely controlled phase transition. At body temperature, it forms a stable structure that changes to a less adhesive state when it cools down.« This »switchable stickiness« is achieved through a crystallization process.

Technical Specifications and Mode of Operation

The material is a copolymer consisting of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks. This composition allows the polymer structure to change depending on the temperature:

• at body temperature: the polymer chains form a firm but flexible structure that ensures strong adhesion to the wound surface.
• at room temperature: the conformation of the polymer chains changes, resulting in a significant reduction in adhesion.

This property is achieved by carefully balancing the hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts of the polymer. The researchers tested different compositions to find the optimal balance between adhesion and removability.

Advantages over Conventional Wound Dressings

The new technology offers several significant advantages:

• Painless removal: Patients experience significantly less pain during dressing changes.
• Residue-free removal: The risk of wound irritation due to adhesive residue is minimized.
• Tissue protection: Gentle removal reduces the risk of tissue damage and wound healing disorders.
• Potential cost savings: Simplified dressing changes and improved wound healing could reduce healthcare costs.
• More satisfied patients: The more comfortable application could lead to greater adherence to treatment.

Wide Range of Applications in Medicine

This wound dressing is therefore particularly suitable for the treatment of chronic wounds (e.g. pressure sores, diabetic foot ulcers), post-operative wound care, burns or allergic, sensitive skin or infected wounds, as skin injuries or detachment are avoided. This type of wound dressing is also ideal for inpatient wound treatment or for large wounds, as no adhesive remains behind and the adhesive also has excellent biocompatibility. Pediatrics and geriatric care are hoping for significantly easier treatments for their patients.

Patenting and Commercialization

The promising technology has been registered for a patent and is being commercialized by Technologie-Lizenz-Büro (TLB) GmbH on behalf of the University of Stuttgart. Dr. Dirk Windisch from TLB emphasizes: »We see great potential in this innovation. Interested companies now have the opportunity to acquire licenses and bring the technology to market maturity.«

The researchers are already working on further improvements to the polymer. Future developments could include additional functions such as controlled drug release or integrated sensor technology for wound monitoring. (uh)

Source:
TLB - Technologie-Lizent-Büro