an absorbent acylated chitosan fibrous wound dressing can be made by following the below steps : 1 . preparation of the reaction solution with a concentration of 0 . 1 g / ml of succinic anhydride : weigh 894 g of succinic anhydride and dissolve it in 8940 ml of ethanol , keep stirring until all succinic anhydride is fully dissolved . 2 . weigh 400 g of chitosan fibre ( degree of deacetylation above 90 %, fibre linear density 1 . 7 dtex ). this will give a molar ratio of anhydride and amino group of chitosan fibre of 4 : 1 . submerse the fibre in ethanol solution for 30 minutes , then squeeze off all liquid . 3 . place the chitosan fibre into the reaction solution prepared earlier , heat the solution to 70 ° c . for 40 minutes . 4 . stop the reaction and take the fibre out of solution , squeeze all liquid out of the fibre , then wash the fibre with ethanol to remove residue . 5 . place the washed fibre in an ethanol solution containing tween 20 for 30 minutes , then squeeze off all liquids , dry the fibre before crimping and cutting the fibre into staple fibre ( length 51 mm ). 6 . measure the degree of substitution of the treated fibre , ds = 0 . 35 . 7 . place the fibre through a carding and nonwoven line and convert the fibre into a nonwoven felt with a base weight of 120 g / m 2 , cut the felt into 5 × 5 cm or 10 × 10 cm dressings and pack them into pouches before putting the packed dressing through a gamma radiation process for sterilisation . measurement of the absorption capacity of the acylated chitosan wound dressing ( following the method of bs en 13726 - 2002 ). 1 . weigh a 5 × 5 cm acylated chitosan wound dressing made from example 1 , w1 = 0 . 3557 g 2 . place the dressing into a petri - dish containing solution a . the volume of the solution a is 40 times of the weight of the dressing . 3 . place the petri - dish in an oven for 30 minutes at 37 ° c . 4 . lift the sample and hold it still for 30 seconds , weigh the mass of the dressing w2 = 6 . 6330 g . 5 . the absorption capacity of the dressing is a =( w2 − w1 )/ w1 = 17 . 65 g / g . take a 10 × 10 cm dressing made from example 1 , cut a 2 × 10 cm strip from the dressing , then cut another 2 × 8 cm strip from the dressing at 90 degrees from the previous strip . these two strips are samples for wet strength for the machine direction and cross machine direction . place both strips into a petri - dish containing solution a for 30 seconds , remove the excess solution and test the maximum breaking force of each strip using a tensiometer . this obtains the wet strength of the dressing in machine direction 1 . 04n / cm , the cross machine direction 1 . 52n / cm , the average wet strength of 1 . 28 n / cm . measurement of the bacteriostatic property of the acylated chitosan wound dressing made from example 1 : 1 . cut the dressing made from example 1 into a 2 × 2 cm square . 2 . place the sample onto a petri - dish that has been covered with 0 . 25 ml of 10 6 - 10 7 cfu / g staphylococcus aureus . 3 . place the petri - dish into an oven at a temperature of 37 ° c . and observe the growth of the bacteria on the plate . it can be seen that the area underneath the dressing does not show signs of bacterial growth whilst other areas display significant growth of the bacteria , as shown in fig1 . another method of making an absorbent acylated chitosan fibrous wound dressing : 1 . preparation of the reaction solution with a concentration of 0 . 05 g / ml of succinic anhydride : weigh 1029 g of succinic anhydride and dissolve it in 20 . 58 l of ethanol , keep stirring until all succinic anhydride is fully dissolved . 2 . weigh 650 g of chitosan fibre ( degree of deacetylation of 85 %, fibre linear density was 1 . 7 dtex ). this will give a molar ratio of anhydride and amino group of chitosan fibre of 3 : 1 . submerse the fibre in ethanol solution for 30 minutes , and then squeeze off all liquid . 3 . place the chitosan fibre into the reaction solution prepared earlier , heat the solution to 60 ° c . for 75 minutes . 4 . stop the reaction and take the fibre out of solution , squeeze all liquid off the fibre , then wash the fibre with ethanol to remove residue . 5 . place the washed fibre in an ethanol solution containing tween 20 for 30 minutes , then squeeze off all liquids , dry the fibre before crimping and cutting the fibre into staple fibre ( length 60 mm ). 6 . measure the degree of substitution of the treated fibre , ds = 0 . 33 . 7 . place the fibre through a carding and nonwoven line and convert the fibre into a nonwoven felt with a base weight of 160 g / m 2 , cut the felt into 5 × 5 cm or 10 × 10 cm dressings and pack them into pouches before putting the packed dressing through an eto ( ethylene oxide ) process for sterilisation . measurement of the absorption capacity of the acylated chitosan wound dressing ( following the method of bs en 13726 - 2002 ). 1 . weigh a 5 × 5 cm acylated chitosan wound dressing made from the example 5 , w1 = 0 . 4070 g 2 . place the dressing into a petri - dish containing solution a . the volume of the solution a is 40 times of the weight of the dressing . 3 . place the petri - dish in an oven for 30 minutes at 37 ° c . 4 . lift the sample and hold it still for 30 seconds , weigh the mass of the dressing w2 = 6 . 7280 g . 5 . the absorption capacity of the dressing is a =( w2 − w1 )/ w1 = 15 . 53 g / g . take a 10 × 10 cm dressing made from example 5 , cut a 2 × 10 cm strip from the dressing , then cut another 2 × 8 cm strip from the dressing 90 degrees from the previous strip . these two strips are samples for wet strength for the machine direction and cross machine direction . place both strips into a petri - dish containing solution a for 30 seconds , remove the excess solution and test the maximum breaking force of each strip using a tensiometer . these obtain the wet strength of the dressing in machine direction 1 . 6 n / cm , the cross machine direction 2 . 3n / cm , the average wet strength of 1 . 96 n / cm . measurement of the bacteriostatic property of the acylated chitosan wound dressing made from example 5 : 1 . cut the dressing made from example 5 into 2 × 2 cm . 2 . place the sample onto a petri - dish that has been covered with 0 . 25 ml of 10 6 - 10 7 cfu / g bacillus subtilis . 3 . place the petri - dish into an oven at a temperature of 37 ° c . and observe the growth of the bacteria on the plate . it can be seen that the area underneath the dressing does not show signs of bacterial growth whilst other areas display significant growth of the bacteria , as shown in fig2 . 1 . preparation of the reaction solution with a concentration of 0 . 025 g / ml of succinic anhydride : weigh 273 g of succinic anhydride and dissolve it in 10 . 93 l of ethanol , keep stirring until all succinic anhydride is fully dissolved . 2 . weigh 500 g of chitosan fibre ( degree of deacetylation of 88 %, fibre linear density was 1 . 5 dtex ). this will give a molar ratio of anhydride and amino group of chitosan fibre of 1 : 1 . submerse the fibre in ethanol solution for 30 minutes , then squeeze off all liquid . 3 . place the chitosan fibre into the reaction solution prepared earlier , heat the solution to 50 ° c . for 100 minutes . 4 . stop the reaction and take the fibre out of solution , squeeze all liquid off the fibre , then wash the fibre with ethanol to remove residue . 5 . place the washed fibre in an ethanol solution containing tween 20 for 40 minutes , then squeeze off all liquids , dry the fibre before crimping and cutting the fibre into staple fibre ( length 60 mm ). 6 . measure the degree of substitution of the treated fibre , ds = 0 . 25 . 7 . place the fibre through a carding and nonwoven line and convert the fibre in a nonwoven felt with a base weight of 140 g / m 2 , cut the felt into 5 × 5 cm or 10 × 10 cm dressings and pack them into pouches before putting the packed dressing through a gamma radiation process for sterilisation . measurement of the absorption capacity of the acylated chitosan wound dressing ( following the method of bs en 13726 - 2002 ). 1 . weigh a 5 × 5 cm acylated chitosan wound dressing made from the example 9 , w1 = 0 . 4382 g 2 . place the dressing into a petri - dish containing solution a . the volume of the solution a is 40 times of the weight of the dressing . 3 . place the petri - dish in an oven for 30 minutes at 37 ° c . 4 . lift the sample and hold it still for 30 seconds , weigh the mass of the dressing w2 = 5 . 3680 g . 5 . the absorption capacity of the dressing is a =( w2 − w1 )/ w1 = 11 . 25 g / g . take a 10 × 10 cm dressing made from example 9 , cut a 2 × 10 cm strip from the dressing , then cut another 2 × 8 cm strip from the dressing 90 degrees from the previous strip . these two strips are samples for wet strength for the machine direction and cross machine direction . place both strips into a petri - dish containing solution a for 30 seconds , remove the excess solution and test the maximum breaking force of each strip using a tensiometer . this obtains the wet strength of the dressing in machine direction 2 . 1 n / cm , the cross machine direction 2 . 9 n / cm , the average wet strength of 2 . 5 n / cm . measurement of the bacteriostatic property of the acylated chitosan wound dressing made from example 9 : 1 . cut the dressing made from example 9 into 2 × 2 cm . 2 . place the sample onto a petri - dish that has been covered with 0 . 25 ml of 10 6 - 10 7 cfu / g pseudomonas aeruginosa bacilli . 3 . place the petri - dish into an oven at a temperature of 37 ° c . and observe the growth of the bacteria on the plate . it can be seen that the area underneath the dressing does not show signs of bacterial growth whilst other areas display significant growth of the bacteria , as shown in fig3 . 1 . preparation of the reaction solution with a concentration of 0 . 15 g / ml of succinic anhydride : weigh 2229 g of succinic anhydride and dissolve it in 14 . 86 l of ethanol , keep stirring until all succinic anhydride is fully dissolved . 2 . weigh 975 g of chitosan fibre ( degree of deacetylation of 92 %, fibre linear density was 2 . 2 dtex ). this will give a molar ratio of anhydride and amino group of chitosan fibre of 4 : 1 . submerse the fibre in ethanol solution for 40 minutes , then squeeze off all liquid . 3 . place the chitosan fibre into the reaction solution prepared earlier , heat the solution to 70 ° c . for 80 minutes . 4 . stop the reaction and take the fibre out of solution , squeeze all liquid off the fibre , then wash the fibre with ethanol to remove residue . 5 . place the washed fibre in an ethanol solution containing tween 20 for 40 minutes , then squeeze off all liquids , dry the fibre before crimping and cutting the fibre into staple fibre ( length 38 mm ). 6 . measure the degree of substitution of the treated fibre , ds = 0 . 40 . 7 . place the fibre through a carding and nonwoven line and convert the fibre in a nonwoven felt with a base weight of 100 g / m 2 , cut the felt into 5 × 5 cm or 10 × 10 cm dressings and pack them into pouches before putting the packed dressing through a gamma radiation process for sterilisation . measurement of the absorption capacity of the acylated chitosan wound dressing ( following the method of bs en 13726 - 2002 ). 1 . weigh a 5 × 5 cm acylated chitosan wound dressing made from the example 13 , w1 = 0 . 3758 g 2 . place the dressing into a petri - dish containing solution a . the volume of the solution a is 40 times the weight of the dressing . 3 . place the petri - dish in an oven for 30 minutes at 37 ° c . 4 . lift the sample and hold it still for 30 seconds , weigh the mass of the dressing w2 = 9 . 5008 g . 5 . the absorption capacity of the dressing is a =( w2 − w1 )/ w1 = 24 . 4 g / g . take a 10 × 10 cm dressing made from example 13 , cut a 2 × 10 cm strip from the dressing , then cut another 2 × 8 cm strip from the dressing 90 degrees from the previous strip . these two strips are samples for wet strength for the machine direction and cross machine direction . place both strips into a petri - dish containing solution a for 30 seconds , remove the excess solution and test the maximum breaking force of each strip using a tensiometer . these obtain the wet strength of the dressing in machine direction 0 . 25 n / cm , the cross machine direction 0 . 60 n / cm , the average wet strength of 0 . 43 n / cm . measurement of the bacteriostatic property of the acylated chitosan wound dressing made from example 13 : 1 . cut the dressing made from example 13 into 2 × 2 cm . 2 . place the sample onto a petri - dish that has been covered with 0 . 25 ml of 10 6 - 10 7 cfu / g escherichia coli . 3 . place the petri - dish into an oven at a temperature of 37 ° c . and observe the growth of the bacteria on the plate . it can be seen that the area underneath the dressing does not show signs of bacterial growth whilst other areas display significant growth of the bacteria , as shown in fig4 . in order to further enhance the wet strength of the acylated chitosan wound dressing , a small portion of untreated chitosan fibre is blended with acylated chitosan fibre during the dressing making process . this way , the dressing &# 39 ; s absorption capacity is largely maintained but the dressing &# 39 ; s wet strength has been increased . the method is described as follows : acylated chitosan fibre : ds = 0 . 35 , linear density 2 . 2 dtex , fibre length 50 mm . the absorbency of solution a of the acylated chitosan fibre is 18 g / g , contain 1 % tween 20 . manually blend 100 g of chitosan fibre with 1900 g of acylated chitosan fibre , open the fibres with a single cylinder opener then feed the opened fibre into a single cylinder carding machine . the fibre receives further blending during the carding stage and is carded into a uniform web , then needle - punched into a nonwoven with a base weight of 130 gsm . cut the fabric into 10 × 10 cm , pack the dressing into pouches then sterilise the dressing with an eto process . the dressing has an absorbency of 12 . 3 g / g , the dressing &# 39 ; s wet strength in machine direction is 0 . 58 n / cm , in cross machine direction : 0 . 95 n / cm . the average wet strength of the dressing is 0 . 77 n / cm . to make the dressing capable of donating calcium whilst maintaining the properties of the acylated chitosan wound dressing , a small portion of calcium alginate fibre is blended with acylated chitosan fibre during the dressing making process . the method is described as follows : calcium alginate : high g , linear density 2 . 1 dtex , fibre length 50 mm , contains 1 % by weight of surfactant . acylated chitosan fibre : ds = 0 . 35 , linear density 1 . 7 dtex , fibre length 51 mm . the absorbency of solution a of the acylated chitosan fibre is 18 g / g , containing 1 % tween 20 . manually blend 200 g of alginate fibre with 1800 g of acylated chitosan fibre , open the fibres with a single cylinder opener then feed the opened fibre into a single cylinder carding machine . the fibre receives further blending during the carding stage and is carded into a uniform web , then needle - punched into a nonwoven fabric with a base weight of 120 gsm . cut the fabric into 10 × 10 cm , pack the dressing into pouches then sterilise the dressing with an eto process . the dressing has an absorbency of 14 . 2 g / g , the dressing &# 39 ; s wet strength in machine direction is 0 . 45 n / cm , in cross machine direction : 0 . 65 n / cm . the average wet strength of the dressing is 0 . 55 n / cm . a calcium ion concentration of 30 mg / kg is measured after submersing the dressing in distilled water . to further increase the absorbency of the dressing , a small portion of chemically modified cellulose fibre ( carboxymethyl cellulose ) is blended with acylated chitosan fibre during the dressing making process . the method is described as follows : acylated chitosan fibre : ds = 0 . 35 , linear density 1 . 7 dtex , fibre length 51 mm . the absorbency of solution a of the acylated chitosan fibre is 18 g / g , contain 1 % tween 20 . carboxymethyl cellulose fibre : linear density 1 . 7 dtex , fibre length 50 mm . the absorbency of solution a is 22 g / g manually blend 1000 g of carboxymethyl cellulose fibre with 1000 g of acylated chitosan fibre , open the fibres with a single cylinder opener then feed the opened fibre into a single cylinder carding machine . the fibre receives further blending during the carding stage and is carded into a uniform web , then needle - punched into a nonwoven fabric with a base weight of 140 gsm . cut the fabric into 10 × 10 cm , pack those dressings into pouches then sterilise the dressing with an eto process . the dressing has an absorbency of 14 . 3 g / g , the dressing &# 39 ; s wet strength in machine direction is 0 . 30 n / cm , in cross machine direction : 0 . 52 n / cm . the average wet strength of the dressing is 0 . 41 n / cm . in order to improve the dressing &# 39 ; s antimicrobial property , a small portion of antimicrobial fibre is blended with acylated chitosan fibre during the dressing making process . the method is described as follows : acylated chitosan fibre : ds = 0 . 35 , linear density 1 . 7 dtex , fibre length 51 mm . the absorbency of solution a of the acylated chitosan fibre is 18 g / g , contain 1 % tween 20 . silver alginate fibre : high g , linear density 2 . 2 dtex , fibre length 50 mm . the fibre contains 0 . 5 % by weight of nano silver . manually blend 200 g of silver alginate fibre with 1800 g of acylated chitosan fibre , open the fibres with a single cylinder opener then feed the opened fibre into a single cylinder carding machine . the fibre receives further blending during the carding stage and is carded into a uniform web , then needle - punched into a nonwoven fabric with a base weight of 140 gsm . cut the fabric into 10 × 10 cm , pack the dressing into pouches then sterilise the dressing with an eto process . the dressing has an absorbency of 12 . 1 g / g , the dressing &# 39 ; s wet strength in machine direction is 0 . 46 n / cm , in cross machine direction : 0 . 60 n / cm . the average wet strength of the dressing is 0 . 53 n / cm . the antimicrobial property of the dressing is evaluated using the method in example 8 . the zone of inhibition of this dressing is shown in fig5 . another absorbent acylated chitosan fibrous wound dressing is described as follows : 1 . convert 1000 g of chitosan fibre ( degree of deacetylation of 90 %, fibre linear density was 1 . 7 dtex , length 51 mm ) into a nonwoven fabric with a base weight of 120 gsm . cut out 1 m 2 as the sample . 2 . preparation of the reaction solution with a concentration of 0 . 05 g / ml of succinic anhydride : weigh 205 g of succinic anhydride and dissolve it in 4 . 5 l of ethanol , keep stirring until all succinic anhydride is fully dissolved . 3 . submerse the above chitosan nonwoven fabric into ethanol for 30 minutes . 4 . place the fabric into the reaction solution prepared in step 2 ; heat the solution to 60 ° c . for 75 minutes . 5 . stop the reaction and take the fabric out of solution , squeeze off all liquid , then wash the fabric with ethanol to remove residue . 6 . place the washed fabric in an ethanol solution containing tween 20 for 30 minutes , then squeeze off all liquids and dry the nonwoven fabric . 7 . measure the degree of substitution of the treated fabric , ds = 0 . 32 . 8 . cut the felt into 5 × 5 cm or 10 × 10 cm dressings and pack them into pouches before putting the packed dressing through an eto sterilisation process . the dressing has an absorbency of 12 . 9 g / g , wet strength in machine direction of 1 . 1 n / cm , cross machine direction of 1 . 4 n / cm , average wet strength of 1 . 25 n / cm . to further increase the wet strength of the acylated chitosan wound dressing , a small portion of textile viscose fibre is blended with acylated chitosan fibre during the dressing making process . the method is described as follows : acylated chitosan fibre : ds = 0 . 35 , linear density 1 . 7 dtex , fibre length 51 mm . the absorbency of solution a of the acylated chitosan fibre is 18 g / g , contain 0 . 2 % oil 602 . viscose fibre : linear density 1 . 5 dtex , fibre length 38 mm , fibre moisture content 11 %. manually blend 100 g of viscose fibre with 900 g of acylated chitosan fibre , open the fibres with a single cylinder opener then feed the opened fibre into a single cylinder carding machine . the fibre receives further blending during the carding stage and is carded into a uniform web , then needle - punched into a nonwoven fabric with a base weight of 130 gsm . cut the fabric into 10 × 10 cm , pack them into pouches and then sterilise the dressing with an eto process . the dressing has an absorbency of 12 . 3 g / g , the dressing &# 39 ; s wet strength in machine direction is 0 . 7 n / cm , in cross machine direction : 1 . 5 n / cm . the average wet strength of the dressing is 1 . 1 n / cm . in order to further increase the wet strength of the acylated chitosan wound dressing , a larger percentage of untreated chitosan fibre is blended with acylated chitosan fibre during the dressing making process . the method is described as follows : acylated chitosan fibre : ds = 0 . 35 , linear density 2 . 2 dtex , fibre length 50 mm . the absorbency of solution a of the acylated chitosan fibre is 18 g / g , contain 1 % tween 20 . manually blend 1900 g of chitosan fibre with 100 g of acylated chitosan fibre , open the fibres with a single cylinder opener then feed the opened fibre into a single cylinder carding machine . the fibre receives further blending during the carding stage and is carded into a uniform web , then needle - punched into a nonwoven fabric with a base weight of 175 gsm . cut the fabric into 10 × 10 cm , pack the dressing into pouches and then sterilise the dressing with an eto process . the dressing has an absorbency of 6 . 9 g / g , the dressing &# 39 ; s wet strength in machine direction is 4 . 7 n / cm , in cross machine direction : 7 . 0 n / cm . the average wet strength of the dressing is 5 . 9 n / cm .
a wound dressing comprising acylated chitosan fibre . the dressing has a wet strength of 0 . 3 n / cm or above . the acylated chitosan fibre may have a degree of substitution of 0 . 10 - 0 . 50 . the acylated chitosan fibre may preferably have a degree of substitution of 0 . 20 - 0 . 40 . the dressing may have an absorbency of 5 - 25 g / g of a solution containing 8 . 298 g / l of sodium chloride and 0 . 368 g / l of calcium chloride dehydrate as measured by bsen 13726 - 12002 part 1 aspects of absorbency . the base material of the dressing may be chitosan fibre that has been chemically modified through an acylation process using anhydride and ethanol as the solvent . a method of manufacturing the wound dressing involves reacting chitosan fibre with anhydride and making acylated chitosan felt through a nonwoven process , and through cutting , packing and sterilizing processes .