BIOMATERIALS IN MEDICAL TEXTILE

Dr. S. Grace Annapoorani, Associate Professor,

Dept of Textile and Apparel Design,
Bharathiar University, Coimbatore

INTRODUCTION
Biomaterial has been chosen from a wide selection of poly(ethylene glycol) polymers
with different end-functionalities, as well as bifunctional cross-linkers and crosslinking agents.
Lipids and detergents are key components in many biomaterial preparations and biomimetic
membrane systems. Biomaterials, defined as synthetic or natural materials used in contact with
biological systems, are enabling tools for many advances in biomedical research. The field of
biomaterials is interdisciplinary and includes aspects of materials science, chemistry, biology,
and medicine.
Carbohydrate polymers of monosaccharide are found in abundance and are inexpensive
thus attracting a lot of attention for targeting drugs to the colon. The use of natural polymers for
colon-targeted delivery is based on the fact that anaerobic bacteria in the colon are able to
recognize the various substrates and degrade them with the enzymes..
The colon specific delivery systems based on a single polysaccharide do not efficiently
permit targeted release. The pH and transit time can vary depending on the individual and the
particular disease state. Drug release can be premature or even non-existent in these cases. The
combination/chemically modified forms of polysaccharides eliminated the drawbacks associated
with the use of single polysaccharide. The industrial researches are going on with the use of
mixtures of polysaccharide and their structurally/chemically modified forms. In this review
emphasis is given on the application and properties of combination/modified forms of
carbohydrate polymers employed for colon specific delivery.

NATURAL CHARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS

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All organisms contain or produce significant quantities of carbohydrates polymers

(polysaccharides, which are naturally occurring bio molecules that perform a number of different
functions (e.g. structural component, energy reserve, lubricating agents etc.). Polysaccharide are
high molecular rate condensation polymer composed of mono saccharides which can be natural,
basic, acidic or combination thereof making the polysaccharides again neutral, basic, acidic or
possessing the ability to have mixed chargers according to its environment. When all the
monosaccharides in a polysaccharide are the same type, the polysaccharide is called a
homopolysaccharide or homoglycan, but when more than one type of monosaccharide is present they are
called heteropolysaccharides or heteroglycans.Homopolysaccharides whilst heteropolysaccharides
contain two or more different monosaccharides.

a) D-glucans(cellulose,dextran)
Dextran is a complex, branched glucan (polysaccharide made of many glucose molecules)
composed of chains of varying lengths (from 3 to 2000 kilodaltons). It is used medicinally as an
antithrombotic (anti-platelet), to reduce blood viscosity, and as a volume expander in anemia.
The d-glucans homopolysaccharides are widely distributed amongst plants animal and micro
organs.
USES:
It is used in some eye drops as a lubricant.

It also increases blood sugar levels.

b) Chitin (and chitosan)

Chitin is one of many naturally occurring polymers. It forms a structural component of
many animals, such as exoskeletons. Over time it is bio-degradable in the natural
environment. Its breakdown may be catalyzed by enzymes called chitinases, secreted by
microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, and produced by some plants.
Chemically, chitin is closely related to chitosan (a more water-soluble derivative of
chitin). It is also closely related to cellulose in that it is a long unbranched chain of glucose
derivatives. Both materials contribute structure and strength, protecting the organism. It is
found in the outer shell of crustanceans.
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USES:

Chitin's properties as a flexible and strong material make it favorable as surgical thread.

Occupations associated with high environmental chitin levels, such as shellfish

processors, are prone to high incidences of asthma. Recent studies have suggested that
chitin may play a role in a possible pathway in human allergic disease.

c) Alginate/alginic acid
Seaweed polysaccharide alginic acid is alinear block copolymer, composed of two
uronic acid residues namely D-malluronic L-guluronic acid. Alginic acid, also called
algin or alginate, is an anionic polysaccharide distributed widely in the cell walls of
brown algae, where it, through binding water, forms a viscous gum. In extracted form it
absorbs water quickly; it is capable of absorbing 200-300 times its own weight in water.
Its colour ranges from white to yellowish-brown. It is sold in filamentous, granular or
powdered forms. Calcium alginate is used in different types of medical products,
including burn dressings that promote healing and can be removed with less pain than
conventional dressings.
d) Hyaluronan/hyaluronate/hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring polysaccharides which is widely distributed in
the connective tissue and vitreous and synovial fluid of mammals.
e) Sulphated polysaccharide

The group of naturally occurring sulphated polysaccharides including heparin,

chondroiting (sulphate), dermatan sulphate and keratin sulphate.

MODIFIED CARBOHYDRATES POLYMERS

Naturally occurring polysaccharide can be modified in order alter their physiochemical
characteristic which may result in a material with enhanced applicable for a specific application.
The most common type of modification include esterification, etherification, oxidation, crosslinking (to increase molecular ratio) and controlled hydrolysis (to reduce molecular ratio)

a. Cellulose solubilisation
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b. The viscose process

c. Cellulose derivation
d. Cross linked dertran

NATURAL AND MODIFIED PROTINES

Proteins used are the formulation or production of medical textile includes collagen,
gelatin, casein, zein, laminin and elastin.

Collagen is a fiberous scleroprotien i.e., the major protein of connective tissue and
the most abundant protein in the higher animal (also being found inn skin, bone,

teeth, tendons, cartilage and blood vessel).

Gelatin is produced by the thermal denaturalization or acid or alkaline

degradation of collagen.
Elastin is a major scteroprotien of connective tissue especially of the elastic tissue
of tendons and arteries. Elastin is a protein in connective tissue that is elastic and
allows many tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or
contracting. Elastin helps skin to return to its original position when it is poked or
pinched. Elastin is also an important load-bearing tissue in the bodies of
vertebrates and used in places where mechanical energy is required to be stored.
Elastin serves an important function in arteries as a medium for
pressure wave propagation to help blood flow and is particularly
abundant in large elastic blood vessels such as the aorta. Elastin
is also very important in the lungs, elastic ligaments, the skin,
and the bladder, elastic cartilage. It is present in all vertebrates

above the jawless fish.

Lamin is a large complex non collagenous glycoprotein synthesis by a variety of
cell types that is the major component of basement membrane. Nuclear lamins,
also known as Class V intermediate filaments, are fibrous proteins providing
structural function and transcriptional regulation in the cell nucleus. Nuclear
lamins interact with membrane-associated proteins to form the nuclear lamina on
the interior of the nuclear envelope. They are involved in the breakdown and
reformation of the nuclear envelope during mitosis, as well as the positioning of

nuclear pores.
Casein is a mixture of phosphoprotiens that are the principal protein of milk.
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Zein is a class of prolamine protein found in maize. It is usually manufactured as

a powder from corn gluten meal.Zein is a major storage protein of corn and
maize. The only cerial crop indigenous to the Americas.

CONCLUSION
It is stressed that textile have a vital part to play in dealing with the growing problem of
healthcare acquired infection, the technology exist to introduce a new generation of products
that will as part of a wider scheme help to address this problem. There is a great challenge
facing the textile world and that is to develop products that meet the requirements of this
people. These textile need to be smart in performance and design and they need to be able to
address the needs and expectations of future generation.

REFERENCE
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/materials-science/biomaterials.html
handbook of technical textile- a r horrocks & s s anand
Medical textile and biomaterials for health care- woodhead publishing in textile.
McMurry, John. Organic Chemistry. 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2008
http://www.medicines.org.uk/EMC/medicine/74/SPC/Tears+Naturale/#CLINICAL_PARTS
Bhuvanesh Gupta, Abha Arorab, Shalini Saxena and Mohammad Sarwar Alam (July 2008). "Preparation of
chitosanpolyethylene glycol coated cotton membranes for wound dressings: preparation and characterization".
Polymers for Advanced Technologies 20: 5865. doi:10.1002/pat.1280.</
Tiffany A. Reese, Hong-Erh Liang, Andrew M. Tager, Andrew D. Luster, Nico Van Rooijen, David Voehringer &
Richard M. Locksley (3 May 2007). "Chitin induces accumulation in tissue of innate immune cells associated with
allergy". Nature 447 (7140): 9296. doi:10.1038/nature05746. PMC 2527589. PMID 17450126.