The protective effect of a new absorbent incontinence design against an alkaline pH challenge on the epidermal barrier.

BACKGROUND: Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is one of the most common complications of incontinence. Improved diaper designs can minimize the occurrence of IAD. PURPOSE: To develop a novel diaper design to minimize the damaging effects of incontinence on the epidermal barrier. METHODS: An optimized diaper design was tested for surface dryness (ie, rewet), maintenance of a skin-adapted surface pH of 5.5, and ability to protect epidermal barrier function from an alkaline pH 10.7 challenge. RESULTS: The diapers released a mean (standard deviation [SD]) of 1.2 (0.2) mg/cm2 of solution under pressure after the first loading and a mean of 2.9 (1.7) mg/cm2 after the second loading. The surface pH remained between 4.5 and 5.5 over 5 hours. In healthy skin, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increased by a mean of 3.43 (4.67) g/m2/h after the alkaline urine solution challenge with the new diaper design versus a mean of 8.38 (5.67) g/m2/h with a cellulose patch (P < .001) as a control. The mean erythema readings were 1.18 (1.30) g/m2/h for the new design and 2.56 (1.25) g/m2/h for the cellulose patches (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The new diaper design minimizes rewetting, maintains an acidic surface, and protects the epidermal barrier against an alkaline pH challenge. This design may help prevent IAD.

Nurses' perspectives and preferences on MoliCare Premium Elastic products for incontinence management.

BACKGROUND: With the wide range of absorbent incontinence products available, it is crucial to select the most suitable product for individuals with incontinence, ensuring that their expectations are met and their quality of life is not compromised. AIM: This study aimed to assess the key features of the newly introduced MoliCare Premium Elastic product by nurses working with residents with incontinence in nursing homes and compare the product characteristics with those of the previous design. METHODS: Forty-three nurses from five nursing homes in Germany were asked to complete a questionnaire focusing on key product performance aspects to elicit their views on the use of MoliCare Premium Elastic products. FINDINGS: All performance features of the new product design received positive ratings from most nurses: 84% considered the overall acceptance of the new design as 'Good', and 52% preferred the new MoliCare Premium Elastic. CONCLUSIONS: The new MoliCare SkinGuard absorbent core technology performed well on each performance characteristic, demonstrating the high quality of the product and its ability to meet the needs of people with incontinence.

Usability assessment of the MoliCare absorbent continence products by nursing specialists.

BACKGROUND: Incontinence is a common disorder among older adults with a higher prevalence in nursing home settings than in community dwellings. There is a wide variety of absorbent continence products on the market used to manage continence. AIM: The study aimed to investigate the experience of caregivers of residents with incontinence in care home settings using the new MoliCare Premium Form design and to compare some of the product features with the previous design. METHOD: A questionnaire focusing on the key performance characteristics of the product was developed and administered to 74 nurses in Germany to obtain their opinions on the use of MoliCare Premium Form products. FINDINGS: More than 90% of respondents rated each key performance aspect of the new product design as 'good' and 'OK'. More than 60% of the caregivers found the new product design to be better performing and 93% preferred the new design to the previous version. CONCLUSION: The newly redesigned continence pad performed very well on each of the individual performance features, indicating the high quality and optimised design of the product. The new design was found to be suitable and effective for individuals with incontinence.

Ergonomic comparison of different incontinence products and effects on time and physical demands on carers.

BACKGROUND: Caregivers are at a high risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Efficiency in handling and changing patients' absorbent incontinence products may reduce the burden of caring. AIMS: This study aimed to compare various types of absorbent incontinence products from an ergonomic perspective and assess the length of time required for handling these products and the physical demand on caregivers' backs, hands and fingers. METHODS: A within-subject design was selected for two studies involving 64 experienced nurses. The first study was conducted at a test centre in Germany, while the second was performed at a hospital in France. Objective data, such as the time required to apply or change a product and physical stress on the back and hands/wrists, as well as users' subjective assessment of product handling were investigated. FINDINGS: Both objective and subjective assessments showed that elastic slips were superior to other slip products. The traditional and belted slips were the second-best products in the objective and subjective assessments respectively. CONCLUSION: Choice of incontinence product influences the time required and the physical demands associated with handling. Both aspects can be considerably reduced with the use of appropriate absorbent incontinence products.

Macro- and Nanoscale Effect of Ethanol on Bovine Serum Albumin Gelation and Naproxen Release.

We report extended ethanol-induced gelation procedures of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 37 °C and investigate the release behavior of a spin-labeled naproxen derivative (SL-NPX) from these hydrogels. The macroscopic mechanical properties of these gels during formation were studied using rheology, while a nanoscopic, more molecular view was obtained by analyzing the secondary structure of the protein during gelation via infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. To evaluate the potential use of BSA hydrogels in controlled drug delivery, SL-NPX-BSA interaction was investigated in detail by continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW EPR) spectroscopy, which provides information on the interaction of the small drug molecules and the hydrogel. In addition to CW EPR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), which provides insight into the size and nature of released components, was applied to characterize the combined influence of incubation time, ethanol, SL-drug, and BSA concentration on release behavior. It was found that the alteration of initial drug loading percentage, hydrogel incubation time as well as BSA and alcohol concentrations affect and thus tune the release rate of SL-NPX from BSA hydrogels. These results lead to the conclusion that BSA hydrogels as controlled release systems offer a remarkable fine-tuning capability for pharmaceutical applications due to the variety of gelation parameters.

Molecular-Level Release of Coumarin-3-Carboxylic Acid and Warfarin-Derivatives from BSA-Based Hydrogels.

This investigation aimed at developing BSA hydrogels as a controlled release system to study the release behavior of spin-labeled coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (SL-CCS) and warfarin (SL-WFR). The release profiles of these spin-labeled (SL-) pharmaceuticals from BSA hydrogels prepared with different procedures are compared in detail. The mechanical properties of the gels during formation and release were studied via rheology, while a nanoscopic view on the release behavior was achieved by analyzing SL-drugs-BSA interaction using continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW EPR) spectroscopy. The influence of type of drug, drug concentration, duration of gel formation, and gelation methods on release behavior were characterized by CW EPR spectroscopy, EPR imaging (EPRI), and dynamic light scattering (DLS), which provide information on the interaction of BSA with SL-drugs, the percentage of drug inside the hydrogel and the nature and size of the released structures, respectively. We found that the release rate of SL-CCS and SL-WFR from BSA hydrogels is tunable through drug ratios, hydrogel incubation time and gelation procedures. All of the results indicate that BSA hydrogels can be potentially exploited in controlled drug delivery applications.

Nanoscopic Characterization of Stearic Acid Release from Bovine Serum Albumin Hydrogels.

The release behavior of 16-doxyl stearic acid (16-DSA) from hydrogels made from bovine serum albumin (BSA) is characterized. 16-DSA serves as a model tracer molecule for amphiphilic drugs. Various hydrogel preparation procedures are tested and the fatty acid release from the different gels is compared in detail. These comparisons reach from the macroscopic level, the viscoelastic behavior via rheological characterization to changes on the nanoscopic level concerning the secondary structure of the protein during gelation through infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. 16-DSA-BSA interaction via continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW EPR) spectroscopy in addition gives a nanoscopic view of small molecule-hydrogel interaction. The combined effects of fatty acid concentration, hydrogel incubation time, and gelation procedures on release behavior are studied via CW EPR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements, which provide deep insight on the interaction of 16-DSA with BSA hydrogels and the nature and size of the released components, respectively. It is found that the release rate of the fatty acid from BSA hydrogels depends on and can thus be tuned through its loading percentage, duration of hydrogel formation and the type of gelation methods. All of the results confirm the potential of these gels as delivery hosts in pharmaceutical applications allowing the sustained release of drug.

A novel electrochemical biosensor based on Fe3O4 nanoparticles-polyvinyl alcohol composite for sensitive detection of glucose.

In this research, a new electrochemical biosensor was constructed for the glucose detection. Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were synthesized through co-precipitation method. Polyvinyl alcohol-Fe3O4 nanocomposite was prepared by dispersing synthesized nanoparticles in the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was immobilized on the PVA-Fe3O4 nanocomposite via physical adsorption. The mixture of PVA, Fe3O4 nanoparticles and GOx was drop cast on a tin (Sn) electrode surface (GOx/PVA-Fe3O4/Sn). The Fe3O4 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Also, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques were utilized to evaluate the PVA-Fe3O4 and GOx/PVA-Fe3O4 nanocomposites. The electrochemical performance of the modified biosensor was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Presence of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the PVA matrix enhanced the electron transfer between enzyme and electrode surface and the immobilized GOx showed excellent catalytic characteristic toward glucose. The GOx/PVA-Fe3O4/Sn bioelectrode could measure glucose in the range from 5 × 10-3 to 30 mM with a sensitivity of 9.36 µA mM-1 and exhibited a lower detection limit of 8 µM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The value of Michaelis-Menten constant (KM) was calculated as 1.42 mM. The modified biosensor also has good anti-interfering ability during the glucose detection, fast response (10 s), good reproducibility and satisfactory stability. Finally, the results demonstrated that the GOx/PVA-Fe3O4/Sn bioelectrode is promising in biosensor construction.