Different Strategies for Functionalising Nonwovens for Medical Use

The global megatrends of an ageing population and the growing population, are driving the sustained expansion of healthcare. This is a rapidly growing and constantly evolving discipline that presents a multitude of opportunities that are being addressed by innovations in nonwovens for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease, illness and injury. Nonwovens and other fibrous materials are extensively utilised in the healthcare sector including products from surgical wipes for infection control, to complex implantable grafts. Rapidly evolving clinical demands and new advancements in materials technology means there is a continuous need for nonwovens innovation and functionalisation. Areas of application for healthcare materials in current markets include implantable materials/tissue engineering (artificial ligaments etc), non-implantable materials (wound dressings, hygiene products, ostomy pouches), healthcare environment materials (surgical gowns, materials to reduce healthcare-associated infection (HCAI)), as well as assistive and therapeutic technologies. Professor Goswami will discuss the importance of functionalisation of nonwovens with case-studies from his research centre