Physico-chemical properties of commercial active alginate dressings.

The aim of this study was to analyse the changing physico-chemical properties of commercial active alginate wound dressings and to evaluate an attempt to improve their effect through chemical modification. The dressings were modified by treating them with specially designed solutions of sodium lactate and arachis oil. Then selected physico-chemical properties (sorption and desorption, theoretical density, pharmaceutical availability of chemical compounds, resistance to washing) were compared for each raw and modified dressing.