Preparation and characterization of konjac glucomannan sponge wound dressing

Abstract

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) sponge, which can absorb much water without being dissolved, was prepared by vacuum freeze-drying process with 1.0% KGM aqueous solution as raw material and 3.0% sodium hydroxide ethylalcohol solution as coagulating bath. The structure of KGM sponge was characterized by FT-IR and SEM, and its handle and visual determination, physical properties, mechanical properties, porosity, permeating rate, absorbing and preserving liquid capacity were measured. There are uniform and connected porosity structures at surface and inside of KGM sponge and the diameter of these pores is about 400 μm. The porosity and air penetrability of KGM sponge are 93.87% and 45.30% respectively, while its absorbing and preserving liquid capacity to man-made plasma are 25.98 g/g and 3.36 g/g respectively. The thickness, apparent density and tensile strength of KGM sponge are 3 mm, 25.15 mg/cm3 and 0.43 MPa respectively. In short, the performances of KGM sponge are better than or close to those of calcium alginate and viscose non-woven wound dressing which are commercially available, so KGM sponge can be used in the treatment of skin wound such as surgical wound or scald wound. Show more