Effectiveness of polymer sheet layer to protect hydrogel dressings

Abstract

Two kinds of polymer sheet layers: breathable film (BF) and breathable laminate (BL) were chosen to cover hydrogel dressings (PVP-CMC and PVP-CMC-BA). The upper and lower surfaces of the polymer sheets were designated as BF (U) and BF (L) for BF and BL (U) and BL (L) for BL, respectively. Water vapor transmission (WVT) test reveals that both BL and BF have oxygen diffusion property, i.e. they are breathable. Microbial penetrability test shows that BF has more resistant property against microbial penetrability. Moisture retention capability proves that polymer sheets effectively reduce the tendency of rapid moisture loss from the hydrogels. According to all the results BF could be considered as more effective layer to protect the properties of hydrogel dressings. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.