Abstract: Herein is disclosed a composition for application to a wound comprising: a first layer comprising a skin adhesive, wherein the first layer has a wound-facing side and a non-wound-facing side and, in a first area, apertures extend through the first layer from the wound-facing side to the non-wound-facing side; and a second layer disposed on a non-wound-facing side of the first layer, the second layer comprising a polymeric film that is continuous in that it extends over and covers each of the apertures of the first layer, the second layer having a moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 500 g/m2/24 hours, measured in accordance with BS EN 13726-2:2002, wherein the composition further comprises a third layer disposed between the first layer and second layer, the third layer being a supporting layer for the first layer, the third layer having apertures therethrough, substantially corresponding to the apertures in the first layer. A method of making such a composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a composition comprising: a layer of water-swellable hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel has embedded therein a reinforcement sheet of liquid-water-permeable material, wherein the layer of hydrogel has a wound-facing side and a non-wound-facing side and apertures extend through the layer of hydrogel from the wound-facing side to the non-wound-facing side and through the reinforcement sheet, wherein the mean area of the apertures on at least one of the wound-facing side and non-wound-facing side of the hydrogel is at least 5 mm2.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wound dressing and composition comprising a backing layer having disposed thereon a discontinuous layer of hydrogel, wherein the discontinuous layer of hydrogel is in the form of discrete islands of hydrogel on the backing layer. Methods of treating a wound using the dressing or the composition are also disclosed. Methods of forming the dressing or the composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to skin dressings that are useful in the treatment of conditions associated with tissue ischaemia and skin lesions including those that are infected, such as burns and surgical wounds and chronic wounds such as but not limited5 to diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers. The skin dressings are also useful to effect transdermal delivery of pharmaceutically active agents.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a composition comprising: a layer of water-swellable hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel has embedded therein a reinforcement sheet of liquid-water-permeable material, wherein the layer of hydrogel has a wound-facing side and a non-wound-facing side and apertures extend through the layer of hydrogel from the wound-facing side to the non-wound-facing side and through the reinforcement sheet, wherein the mean area of the apertures on at least one of the wound-facing side and non-wound-facing side of the hydrogel is at least 5 mm2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system comprising: (i) a layer containing a nitrite; and (ii) a hydrogel that contains hydrogen ions; wherein the layer containing a nitrite and/or the hydrogel comprises a pharmaceutically active agent. The invention also provides the use of a system of the invention in medicine, and in the treatment of pain.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a composition comprising: a layer of water-swellable hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel has embedded therein a reinforcement sheet of liquid-water-permeable material, wherein the layer of hydrogel has a wound-facing side and a non-wound-facing side and apertures extend through the layer of hydrogel from the wound-facing side to the non-wound-facing side and through the reinforcement sheet, wherein the mean area of the apertures on at least one of the wound-facing side and non-wound-facing side of the hydrogel is at least 5 mm2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system comprising: (i) a layer containing a nitrite; and (ii) a hydrogel that contains hydrogen ions. The invention also provides the use of a system of the invention for the treatment of a condition associated with tissue ischaemia or a wound and the use of a system of the invention in combination with an anaesthetic for the treatment or prevention of pain.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multilayer composition comprising: a first layer comprising a first material which is at least partially impregnated with a second material wherein the first material is a gel material and the second material is a flexible porous material, and a second layer comprising a low friction material wherein the composition is adapted so that the first layer is in fluid flow communication with a wound or skin of a wearer in use.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wound dressing and composition comprising a backing layer having disposed thereon a discontinuous layer of hydrogel, wherein the discontinuous layer of hydrogel is in the form of discrete islands of hydrogel on the backing layer. Methods of treating a wound using the dressing or the composition are also disclosed. Methods of forming the dressing or the composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hydrogel/fibre composite structure producible by a method comprising: partially impregnating fibres of a water-swellable fibrous material with an aqueous hydrogel precursor solution comprising at least one polymerisable, and optionally crosslinkable, monomer such that at least partial swelling of the impregnated fibres takes place, and polymerising, and optionally crosslinking, the at least one monomer after impregnation of the fibres and at least partial swelling of the fibres to form the hydrogel within the impregnated fibres of the fibrous material, such that the integrity of the fibrous material is at least partially preserved in the resulting hydrogel/fibre composite. A method of producing the hydrogel/fibre composite structure and a biomedical product comprising the hydrogel/fibre composite structure are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogel composition, preferably for the treatment of wounds, comprising a hydrophilic co-polymer carrying multiple pendant anionic groups, wherein the polymer is derived from a first monomer and a second monomer, wherein both monomers have an octanol:water partition coefficient LogP value of less than 0, and, the LogP value of the first monomer is greater (more positive) than the second monomer. The difference between the LogP value for the two monomers is preferably less than 2. The weight ratio (w/w) of the first monomer/second monomer in the hydrogel composition is preferably equal to or more than about 1. The pendant anionic groups may be sulphonyl groups, e.g. sulphonic acid groups or salts thereof. The anionic group in both first and second monomers may be in salt form and the counterion for both monomers is preferably the same.

Abstract: The invention provides a layered composition comprising: a first layer comprising a first material, wherein the first material comprises a gel material; a second layer comprising a second material, wherein the second material is harder is than the first material; and a third layer comprising a third material, wherein the third material has a lower tensile modulus than the second material, wherein the second layer is disposed between the first and third layers. The composition may be used in a wound dressing, in which preferably the first layer is in fluid flow communication with the wound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for the treatment of a wound, the composition comprising: a first layer, which comprises a porous, optionally hydrophilic material capable of absorbing fluid from the wound at least in part by capilliary action, a second layer comprising an absorbent hydrogel, the first layer being associated with the second layer, wherein, in the treatment, the first layer is disposed closer to the wound than the second layer and the composition modulates the concentration of dissolved ions in the fluid in the wound. The present invention further provides uses of the composition and methods of making the composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to antimicrobial hydrogel polymers, and dressings comprising one or more hydrogel-forming hydrophilic polymers, where the hydrogels and dressings further comprise one or more antimicrobial agents that are released from the hydrogel in a controlled manner. The hydrogels and dressings may be used for medical, veterinary, and/or cosmetic applications. The dressings may be applied, for example, as wound dressings, surgical dressings, and percutaneous site dressings. In certain aspects of the invention, the dressings may be beneficially used in methods of accelerating wound healing, preventing and/or reducing the incidence of wound infection, and reducing scarring associated with wounds.

Abstract: A dressing for covering a wound of a patient comprises a sheet member adapted to be adhered to the patient's skin in use to provide an airtight seal around the wound, wherein the skin-adhesion is provided by a hydrogel layer 10 on the skin-facing face of the sheet member, wherein the sheet member defines in use a substantially enclosed space 5 above the wound, and wherein a plurality of mutually spaced-apart flutter valves formed by holes 5 in a thin film 13 overlying an upper face of a layer 12 of the sheet member permit one-way air, blood and/or other fluid flow communication from the space 5 above the wound to the exterior of the dressing.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a wound (for example, a chronic ulcerous skin lesion) in a human or non-human mammal (particularly a human). The wound is contacted with a topical hydrogel composition comprising a hydrophilic polymer carrying multiple pendant sulphonyl groups, optionally with multiple pendant carboxylic groups, on each polymer molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogel composition, preferably for the treatment of wounds, comprising a hydrophilic co-polymer carrying multiple pendant anionic groups, wherein the polymer is derived from a first monomer and a second monomer, wherein both monomers have an octanol:water partition coefficient Log P value of less than 0, and, the Log P value of the first monomer is greater (more positive) than the second monomer. The difference between the Log P value for the two monomers is preferably less than 2. The weight ratio (w/w) of the first monomer/second monomer in the hydrogel composition is preferably equal to or more than about 1. The pendant anionic groups may be sulphonyl groups, e.g. sulphonic acid groups or salts thereof. The anionic group in both first and second monomers may be in salt form and the counterion for both monomers is preferably the same.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a wound (for example, a chronic ulcerous skin lesion) in a human or non-human mammal (particularly a human). The wound is contacted with a topical hydrogel composition comprising a hydrophilic polymer carrying multiple pendant sulphonyl groups, optionally with multiple pendant carboxylic groups, on each polymer molecule.

Abstract: The invention provides a layered composition comprising: a first layer comprising a first material, wherein the first material comprises a gel material; a second layer comprising a second material, wherein the second material is harder is than the first material; and a third layer comprising a third material, wherein the third material has a lower tensile modulus than the second material, wherein the second layer is disposed between the first and third layers. The composition may be used in a wound dressing, in which preferably the first layer is in fluid flow communication with the wound.