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| <h3>Introduction</h3> | | <h3>Introduction</h3> |
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| <p>Patients with burn wounds or other poor-healing wounds, like diabetes wounds, often suffer from various complications such as infections. Until now the common medical bandages have to be removed to monitor the wound healing progress. To examine if there is an infection, which implies the presence of pathogenic bacteria, samples of the wound have to be taken and studied in a specialized laboratory. This is a long time and expensive process and we want to simplify and accelerate this procedure. | | <p>Patients with burn wounds or other poor-healing wounds, like diabetes wounds, often suffer from various complications such as infections. Until now the common medical bandages have to be removed to monitor the wound healing progress. To examine if there is an infection, which implies the presence of pathogenic bacteria, samples of the wound have to be taken and studied in a specialized laboratory. This is a long time and expensive process and we want to simplify and accelerate this procedure. |
| The solution for the problem is a hydrogel, which is characterized by containing water, forming a solid three-dimensional network structures and being water insoluble. Most hydrogels could swell in aqueous solutions; for our purpose, as a wound bandage, it can be used to absorb some of the wound fluid. Furthermore it can be attached hermetically and the moisture provided by the hydrogel leads therefore to ideal wound healing conditions. | | The solution for the problem is a hydrogel, which is characterized by containing water, forming a solid three-dimensional network structures and being water insoluble. Most hydrogels could swell in aqueous solutions; for our purpose, as a wound bandage, it can be used to absorb some of the wound fluid. Furthermore it can be attached hermetically and the moisture provided by the hydrogel leads therefore to ideal wound healing conditions. |
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− | <a href="#" class="image"><https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2017/3/3d/T--TU_Darmstadt--AgaroseH.jpeg" alt="" /></a>
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− | <h4>Multiple Choice Questions</h4>
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− | <p>A hydrogel composed of chitosan and agarose fulfils most of the required criteria for an “ideal” wound dressing.
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− | Agarose is a biocompatible, linear polysaccharide which is extracted from marine algae. It consists of 1,4-linked 3,6-anhydro-α-L-galactose and 1,3-linked β-D-galactose derivatives.
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− | <br>When the agarose is dissolved in water, it forms a gel with a three-dimensional scaffold and a porous structure providing a good environment for cell adhesion, spreading and proliferation. It is capable of gelling within the desired site because of the polymer interaction. By varying the concentration of agarose in the hydrogel, the mechanical properties, which are similar to those of tissues, can easily be adjusted <a href="#[4]">[4]</a>.
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− | <br>The preparation of such a hydrogel is quite simple. The desired amount of agarose is dissolved in water. 1 % acetic acid and the desired amount of chitosan are dissolved in water, simultaneously. Both solution are mixed and heated while stirring until the solution is clear. We transferred this mixture in a petri dish with the desired thickness.
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− | We examined gels with concentrations of 1 -3 % agarose and 1 – 3 % chitosan. The most promising variation is the hydrogel with 1 % agarose and 1 % chitosan. It forms a stable, elastic gel which allows easy handling.
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− | The simplicity of preparing the hydrogel and its multifunctionality allows many future applications of agarose-based hydrogels <a href="#[5]">[5]</p>
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− | </article>
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| <p>A hydrogel composed of chitosan and agarose fulfils most of the required criteria for an “ideal” wound dressing. | | <p>A hydrogel composed of chitosan and agarose fulfils most of the required criteria for an “ideal” wound dressing. |