Plasma-chemical modifications of cellulose for biomedical applications

A 6-carboxycellulose (in medicine known as oxidized cellulose or oxycellulose) is one of the cellulose derivatives popular in the field of surgery. Health products based on oxidized cellulose are great local hemostatics with unique bactericidal and fully bioabsorbable effects. Traditional process of native cellulose oxidation is described as a complex radical reaction in strong acidic liquid medium doped by toxic nitrous radicals (NO star). Our plasma-chemical reaction demonstrates a new synthesis method of oxidized cellulose with unique bactericidal effect. This plasma-chemical treatment is based on atmospheric plasma discharge in liquid medium leading to the oxidation of polysaccharide molecules resulting in oxycellulose. Final oxycellulose properties were evaluated by infrared spectroscopy and carboxyl content determination. The biological impact showed a strong germicidal effect.