PNNL

Abstract

We consider the rational design and chemical modification of cotton gauze, which is used widely in chronic wounds, to improve wound dressing fibers for application to chronic wound healing. Cotton gauze may be tailored to more effectively enhance the biochemistry of wound healing. The presence of elevated levels of elastase in non-healing wounds has been associated with the degradation of important growth factors and fibronectin necessary for wound healing. In the healing wound a balance of elastase and antiproteases precludes degradation of beneficial proteins from taking place. Cotton gauze modified to release elastase inhibitors or selectively functionalized to sequester elastase provides a dressing that decreases high levels of destructive elastase in the chronic wounds. Three approaches have been taken to explore the potential of fiber-inhibitors useful in chronic wounds: 1) Formulation of inhibitors on the dressing; 2) Synthesis of elastase recognition sequences on cotton cellulose; and 3) Data presented here on carboxymethylating, and oxidizing textile finishes of cotton gauze to remove elastase from the wound.