Preparation of multifunctional wound dressings with composite PVA/PE films

The waterproof and breathable wound dressings have undergone continuous and substantial evolution over time. Polyethene films have been widely used to fabricate waterproof dressing. Electrospun biopolymers enable rapid and effective wound healing due to the surface-area-to-volume ratio of electrospun nanofibers and their porous structure. In the present study, the waterproof and breathable bandages were prepared with plasma-treated PE films as the waterproof layer and a blend of polyvinyl alcohol–alginic acid by electronic spinning technique. The composited samples were crosslinked with glutaraldehyde to increase their water stability and mechanical properties. The composited pieces were characterized for their structural properties using SEM, FTIR, DSC, TG. Their water vapour transmission rate, air permeability, tensile strength and antibacterial property were also studied. Cytotoxicity of the dressing was evaluated with human dermal fibroblast cells. The results revealed that the composited PVA/PE dressing shown excellent cooling ability, and improved the waterproof and breathable properties, which enhanced wound healing, compared with the traditional dressing material, such as cotton non-woven.Graphical abstract