Post by williamplayer on Jan 4, 2014 15:42:46 GMT
Bandages are a necessary part of the health care industry. Even though they are there to help the healing process along, if left unchecked can cause problems of their own. If you leave a bandage on long enough it macerates the skins, much like how skin wrinkles after being in a hot bath.
If left on for too long or simply not changed often enough the soiled bandage can impede the bodies natural healing process. Dressing changes can also be detrimental to the healing process because the skin is torn when the bandage is removed. If the bandage is not changed often enough, bacterial colonies can start to grow, with obvious negative consequences to the health of the person.
Graphene bandages will be a huge leap for the healthcare system worldwide, because of the anti-biotic nature of the graphene material. Carbons reaction to humans is practically inert, but has serious implications for bacterial colony growth, in that, the bacteria can not get a foot hold. Maybe this is because graphene is a quantum material; maybe it’s the honeycomb nature of the structure that holds the key to its amazing healing qualities?
So can graphene type bandages be the next step in healthcare? Well scientists from both sides of the world seem to think so:
"A team of Chinese researchers was exploring new applications for graphene when they decided to make a sheet of "paper" from graphene oxide. They tried to grow both bacteria and human cells on the material and found that while the bacteria couldn't find a solid footing to colonize, the human cells were more or less unaffected. As such, the paper could be used to make bandages that discourage bacterial infection. It could also be used in live tissue storage, packaging of food products, or integrated into textiles that don't allow bacteria to breed."(1)
In America, scientists using the same principle that the Chinese developed for Graphene bandages but have taken it one step further. US scientists from the University of Emory, also claim that not does graphene has amazing anti-bacterial properties, but, because of the electro-chemical properties of Graphene(2), the bandage would literally be able to tell you when it needs to be changed!
Advances in this idea may also provide improved bandage technology that would allow the bandage to display up to date information on how well the wound is healing or information about bacterial colony growth that is occurring in the wound. This information will be viewed using a visual display located on the surface of the graphene bandage. This interface may allow for the monitoring the condition of serious wounds to tell the users/nurses when the bandage needs to be changed, down to the nano-second!
For example; If the nurse wanted to inspect the wound then the graphene bandage can turn translucent and the wound may be viewed through the bandage itself! Because of graphene’s amazing anti-biotic properties, the bandage life expectancy would be greatly improved. Graphene does not allow bacterial colonies to establish themselves, but human cells are more of less unaffected and multiple freely.
They key benefits of Graphene Bandages (to date) as identified by the University of Emory in the USA:
(1) Graphene on bandages and other dressings may promote clotting of wounds, including wounds due trauma, hemorrhaging, bleeding disorders, and some cancers.
(2) Use of graphene as a clot-promoting agent allows for an additional use as a biosensor, which could allow for real-time monitoring of clot formation. (3)
Because of graphene’s amazing anti-biotic properties, the bandage life expectancy would be greatly improved. Graphene does not allow bacterial colonies to establish themselves, but human cells were more of less unaffected.
WP.
References Used in Article:
(1)www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-07/antibacterial-graphene-paper-could-lead-better-bandages-non-smelly-shoes
(2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rNxrJcqb7k
(3)emoryott.technologypublisher.com/technology/9093
Articles and Media Gathered for Research :
OTT: Breakfast Club 2012 - Graphene-coated Bandages:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rNxrJcqb7k
www.ott.emory.edu/industry/featured/bandage.html
emoryott.technologypublisher.com/technology/9093
Graphene Future Applications
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzBLsjkNqVc
New Antibacterial Material for Bandages, Food Packaging, Shoes
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100721133219.htm
www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-07/antibacterial-graphene-paper-could-lead-better-bandages-non-smelly-shoes
Scab-Inspired Cytophilic Membrane of Anisotropic Nanofibers for Rapid Wound Healing
phys.org/news/2013-05-human-scabs-bandage.html
pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/am4004683
Scientists on verge of creating super bandage that shields from infection
www.dvice.com/archives/2010/07/scientists_on_v.php
If left on for too long or simply not changed often enough the soiled bandage can impede the bodies natural healing process. Dressing changes can also be detrimental to the healing process because the skin is torn when the bandage is removed. If the bandage is not changed often enough, bacterial colonies can start to grow, with obvious negative consequences to the health of the person.
Graphene bandages will be a huge leap for the healthcare system worldwide, because of the anti-biotic nature of the graphene material. Carbons reaction to humans is practically inert, but has serious implications for bacterial colony growth, in that, the bacteria can not get a foot hold. Maybe this is because graphene is a quantum material; maybe it’s the honeycomb nature of the structure that holds the key to its amazing healing qualities?
So can graphene type bandages be the next step in healthcare? Well scientists from both sides of the world seem to think so:
"A team of Chinese researchers was exploring new applications for graphene when they decided to make a sheet of "paper" from graphene oxide. They tried to grow both bacteria and human cells on the material and found that while the bacteria couldn't find a solid footing to colonize, the human cells were more or less unaffected. As such, the paper could be used to make bandages that discourage bacterial infection. It could also be used in live tissue storage, packaging of food products, or integrated into textiles that don't allow bacteria to breed."(1)
In America, scientists using the same principle that the Chinese developed for Graphene bandages but have taken it one step further. US scientists from the University of Emory, also claim that not does graphene has amazing anti-bacterial properties, but, because of the electro-chemical properties of Graphene(2), the bandage would literally be able to tell you when it needs to be changed!
Advances in this idea may also provide improved bandage technology that would allow the bandage to display up to date information on how well the wound is healing or information about bacterial colony growth that is occurring in the wound. This information will be viewed using a visual display located on the surface of the graphene bandage. This interface may allow for the monitoring the condition of serious wounds to tell the users/nurses when the bandage needs to be changed, down to the nano-second!
For example; If the nurse wanted to inspect the wound then the graphene bandage can turn translucent and the wound may be viewed through the bandage itself! Because of graphene’s amazing anti-biotic properties, the bandage life expectancy would be greatly improved. Graphene does not allow bacterial colonies to establish themselves, but human cells are more of less unaffected and multiple freely.
They key benefits of Graphene Bandages (to date) as identified by the University of Emory in the USA:
(1) Graphene on bandages and other dressings may promote clotting of wounds, including wounds due trauma, hemorrhaging, bleeding disorders, and some cancers.
(2) Use of graphene as a clot-promoting agent allows for an additional use as a biosensor, which could allow for real-time monitoring of clot formation. (3)
Because of graphene’s amazing anti-biotic properties, the bandage life expectancy would be greatly improved. Graphene does not allow bacterial colonies to establish themselves, but human cells were more of less unaffected.
WP.
References Used in Article:
(1)www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-07/antibacterial-graphene-paper-could-lead-better-bandages-non-smelly-shoes
(2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rNxrJcqb7k
(3)emoryott.technologypublisher.com/technology/9093
Articles and Media Gathered for Research :
OTT: Breakfast Club 2012 - Graphene-coated Bandages:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rNxrJcqb7k
www.ott.emory.edu/industry/featured/bandage.html
emoryott.technologypublisher.com/technology/9093
Graphene Future Applications
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzBLsjkNqVc
New Antibacterial Material for Bandages, Food Packaging, Shoes
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100721133219.htm
www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-07/antibacterial-graphene-paper-could-lead-better-bandages-non-smelly-shoes
Scab-Inspired Cytophilic Membrane of Anisotropic Nanofibers for Rapid Wound Healing
phys.org/news/2013-05-human-scabs-bandage.html
pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/am4004683
Scientists on verge of creating super bandage that shields from infection
www.dvice.com/archives/2010/07/scientists_on_v.php