Researchers at Empa (Swiss National Federal Laboratory) are currently developing a drug-loadable polymer fiber. This intelligent fiber can identify the treatment needs in the human body, and can accurately and accurately give the corresponding drug treatment. For example, drug-releasable textiles can be used to treat skin wounds.
In the self-care materials project, the fibers used are produced through various processes using biodegradable polymers. Empa researcher and project coordinator René Rossi explained: "The targeted application of the fiber determines which is the best manufacturing process."
In the so-called electrospinning process, after the polymer is configured as a spinning solution, a fine light film with a high surface area is formed under the action of an electric field. Among them, if a stronger fiber is needed, for example, for protective clothing, a melt spinning process is preferred. But in the end, a new type of fiber was produced using different processes, and its nanostructure was composed of multiple layers and components.
"The properties of these new materials are currently being tested," Rossi said, and in finished products such as antibiotics or painkillers will be integrated into the fibers.
To ensure that the dosage of the active substance is exactly what is needed at the site of the injury, the researchers devised a complex control mechanism: some polymers can be degraded by the body under certain conditions. So we use this property for special use.
Rossi also said: "In order to respond to physical stimuli, this smart fiber should be designed to release the drug into the injured environment at our calculated degradation rate."
Among them, the aforementioned stimulus can be a change in the pH of the skin wound, which indicates that the tissue has been damaged and must be treated. As a so-called self-care material, this fiber comes in the form of plaster or clothing to support the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
"For a large number of applications, we can consider using self-care fibers," Rossi said.
However, in addition to chemical signals from the body, we can use stimuli that are intentionally set from the outside to control the release of drugs from the fiber. For example, light stress and light stimulation. The use of these two types of external stimulus-releasing textiles or dressings can not only improve the quality of life of patients, but also reduce the burden on medical staff.
On the other hand, the system can also be used for preventive measures. The idea behind it is that when the active substance is released, the substance can also penetrate the fiber in the opposite direction.
"Therefore, fiber can be used as a sensor, for example, to measure the amount of sugar in the blood," Rossi explained.