Medical textiles
Medical textiles are numerous fiber-based materials intended for medical purposes. Medical textile is a sector of technical textiles that emphasizes fiber-based products used in health care applications such as prevention, care, and hygiene.
The spectrum of applications of medical textiles ranges from simple cotton bandages to advanced tissue engineering. Common examples of products made from medical textiles include dressings, implants, surgical sutures, certain medical devices, healthcare textiles, diapers, menstrual pads, wipes, and barrier fabrics.
Medical textiles include many fiber types, yarns, fabrics, non-woven materials, woven, braided, as well as knitted fabrics. Physical and chemical alterations of fiber architectures, the use of functional finishes, and the production of stimuli-sensitive materials are major approaches for developing innovative medical textiles.
Advances in textile manufacturing and medical technologies have made medical healthcare an important industry in textiles. Textiles are used in the production of a variety of medical devices, including replacements for damaged, injured, or non-functioning organs. The manufacture of medical textiles is a growing sector. There are many reasons for its growth, such as new technology in both textiles and medicine; ageing populations; growing populations; changes in lifestyles; and longer life expectancies. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic generated higher demand for certain medical textile applications , and there were shortages worldwide. Even China, the world's largest manufacturer of such applications, has struggled to keep up with demand.
History
s have been used in medical applications since ancient times. The use of splints, bandages, and gauges is very old. An ancient Sanskrit text on medicine and surgery, the Sushruta Samhita, categorises Kausheya under the "articles of bandaging." The concept of personal protective equipment for medical practitioners dates all the way back to the 17th century. Plague doctor costumes were intended to protect plague doctors from the disease during outbreaks of the Bubonic Plague in Europe. According to descriptions, the costumes were typically composed of heavy fabric or leather and was waxed.Significance
Medical textiles have a critical role in preserving human life. So, e.g., medical textile applications, were in high demand and scarce supply during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in severe shortages. Considering the shortage, in February 2020, the World Health Organization restricted the use of medical essentials such as PPE and masks, etc. to front-line workers only. PPE protects medical professionals from illness, infections . The PPE cloth acts as a barrier with the capacity to prevent contaminants from entering the body through respiratory secretions, blood, and bodily fluids.Masks can protect healthy people from illness by limiting the spread of respiratory droplets and aerosols.
Types
Categories of fibers, fabrics and materials
There are four different groups of fibers, fabrics and materials used in medical textile products.| Category | Medical textile products |
| Extracorporeal devices | Artificial organs such as lung, liver, and kidney, etc. |
| Implantable materials | Vascular grafts, sutures, artificial joints, and ligaments. |
| Non-implantable materials | Dressing, bandages, and plaster, etc. |
| Hygiene and healthcare products | Clothing, surgical gowns, bedding, and wipes, etc. |
Different types of fibers and manufacturing systems are utilized for the production of the various medical textile products.
Extracorporeal devices category
Extracorporeal devices are the artificial organs that remain outside the body while treating a patient. Extracorporeal devices are useful in hemodialysis and cardiac surgery.| Fiber or material types | Extracorporeal devices |
| Viscose | Artificial liver |
| Polyurethane | Artificial heart |
| PP | Lungs |
Implantable materials category
Implants are medical devices used to replace a missing biological structure, to sustain a damaged biological structure, or to improve an existing biological structure. In contrast to a transplant, which is biomedical tissue that has been transplanted, medical implants are man-made devices such as artificial ligaments and vascular grafts, etc.| Fiber or material types | Manufacturing system employed | Implantable materials |
| Polyester, Polytetrafluoroethylene | Weaving, Knitting | Cardiovascular implants such as vascular grafts and heart valves |
| Silicone, Polyethylene, Polyoxymethylene | Orthopedic implants such as artificial bones and joints | |
| Polylactic acid, Polyglycolide, Collagen | Monofilament or braided | Biodegradable surgical sutures |
| Steel, Polytetrafluoroethylene, Polyester, Nylon | Monofilament or braided | Non-biodegradable surgical sutures |
| Soft tissue implants such as the following: | ||
| ||
| Polyester, Carbon | Braiding | Ligaments |
| Low-density polyethylene | Nonwoven | Cartilage |
Non-implantable materials category
Non-implantable materials are used externally and may or may not contact skin. For example, bandages, plaster, orthopedic belts, pressure garments, etc.| Fiber or material types | Manufacturing system employed | Non-implantable materials |
| Nylon, Cotton, and Spandex | Knitting and Weaving | Compression bandages |
| Cotton, Viscose, Polyamide, and Spandex | Weaving, Knitting, and Nonwoven | Ordinary bandages which are elastic or non-elastic |
| Cotton, Viscose, Polyurethane foam, Polypropylene, and Polyester | Weaving, Nonwoven | Orthopedic bandages |
| Cotton, Viscose | Knitting, Weaving | Gauges |
| Cotton, Viscose, Plastic films, Glass, Polypropylene, and Polyester | Knitting, Weaving, and Nonwoven | Plasters |
| Cotton, Viscose | Nonwoven | Absorbent pads in wound care |
| Cotton, Chitosan | Weaving | Antimicrobial dressings |
Hygiene and healthcare products category
The term "hygiene and healthcare products" refers to a variety of materials used to maintain the hygiene, safety, and care of medical professionals and patients. Surgical drapes, gowns, uniforms, clothing, caps, wipes, masks, and hospital bed linens are all included in this category| Fiber types | Manufacturing system employed | Hygiene and healthcare products |
| Polyester, Polypropylene | Nonwoven | Protective clothes |
| Cotton, Polyester | Weaving | Uniforms |
| Polyester, Polypropylene, Cotton | Weaving, Nonwoven | Medical gowns |
| Polyester, Viscose, Glass | Nonwoven | Masks |
| Cotton | Weaving | Sheets and Pillow covers |
| Polyester, Cotton | Weaving, Knitting | Blankets |
| Polyester, Superabsorbent polymer | Nonwoven | Diapers |
Human textiles
Human textiles refer to textiles that utilize human materials, including bioengineered yarns made from human cells, for tissue regeneration. Textiles manufactured from human tissue-based 'yarn' can be intricately woven, knitted, or braided and have the potential to contribute to various applications, ranging from simple biocompatible sutures to complex woven tissues for surgical repairs, thereby aiding in the healing process of injuries. Human textiles offer a potential solution to mitigate the drawbacks associated with foreign agents that may induce adverse side effects.Cell-Assembled extracellular Matrix (CAM)
The Cell-Assembled Extracellular matrix is both biologically sound and resilient, allowing for large-scale production suitable for clinical applications utilizing regular, adult human fibroblasts.Foreign body reaction
In the medical field, most permanent synthetic biomaterials are considered foreign by the innate immune system. This can lead to a foreign body reaction when implanted.Properties
Products made from medical textiles are specially engineered textile-based products used in medical applications. These products are used for prevention, care, and hygiene purposes. A combination of properties are considered while selecting the materials, which largely depends upon the particular use. The materials used in medical textile products must have the following properties: strength, softness, biocompatibility, elasticity, flexibility, nontoxicity, noncarcinogenic, non-allergenic, and air and water permeability.Biotextiles are constructions made of textile fibers that are employed in both implantable and non-implant applications. Their performance is assessed according to their biofunctionality, biocompatibility, and biostability. For example, biostability in the presence of body fluids and cells.