Novel Drape with Hybrid Adhesives Has Improved Usability and Allows Re-epithelialization in a Partial Thickness Swine Model

Background: Dressings that are easy to use and gentle to the periwound area continue to be a significant unmet need in wound care. A novel drape containing composite adhesives i.e., both acrylic and silicone adhesive has been recently developed (ha-Drape)*. While drapes and dressings are commonly required to adhere to intact and compromised skin, their use in applications such as negative pressure wound therapy are particularly challenging.

Purpose: The studies detailed herein investigate epithelialization in the presence of a hybrid, low tack adhesive dressing in a partial thickness wound model as well as its ease of use and ability to maintain a seal when utilized in a simulated negative pressure wound therapy model system.

Methods: The effect of the silicone and acrylic adhesive along with the unique drape design on the process of re-epithelialization was studied in a partial-thickness wounds (7.5 x 3 cm) created on the dorsum of swine. Ease of use testing, specifically, with respect to repositionability, ability to maintain seal, and ability to gently remove the ha-Drape was assessed in benchtop studies.

Results: Results demonstrated a 97.07 ± 2.92 % re-epithelialization was achieved in in vivo by day 5 using ha-Drape. Furthermore, in the more challenging NPWT simulation, the ha-Drape was found to secure the dressing for up to 72 hours (n=5) while maintaining the desired negative pressure values and yet allowed gentle dressing removal at the end of the test time frame.

Conclusion: Taken together, our study highlights the ease of use of the ha-Drape and its compatibility with re-epithelialization.

* DERMATAC™ Drape (KCI, an ACELITY Company)