Textile substance release examined
09/05/2008
Scientists at the Institute of Hygiene and Biotechnology at the Textile Research Centre of the Hohenstein Institutes have been looking at the transfer of drugs to the skin via textiles. The Bönnigheim, Germany-based centre has been looking at the potential medical and cosmetic benefit of the substance release textiles, particularly in terms of continuity and controllability.
The research project – led by Dr Dirk Höfer – has investigated various microcapsule depot structures with regard to their mechanical strength, their capacity to release substances and their resistance to washing. It has also evaluated the properties of various casing materials and current methods of applying microcapsules to textile bases such as cotton and polyester.
With regard to washfastness, microcapsules with a small diameter (<10 µm) and a melamine or chitosan casing, combined with the appropriate binder system, proved to be the best for applying to textiles. The results of the study showed that the way the microcapsules bind to the fibres could be further improved by optimising the binder systems that are available on the market, without jeopardising the functioning of the encapsulated depot structures. The release of substances and their transfer on to the skin was investigated by the Hohenstein scientists by using chitosan microcapsules filled with Vitamin E.The results of the research show that cosmetic substances are released in sufficient quantities from the depot structures in the textile on to the skin and that this is therefore a possible new approach to skincare. Equally promising were new developments in the encapsulation of biological substances, such as those that promote more rapid wound healing.
However, for therapeutic applications in medicine, the microcapsules still require further refinement in terms of controlling the dose when releasing the substance.
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