Provided is a biodegradable water absorbent having high gel strength and exhibiting an excellent absorption factor and excellent liquid passage rate through a gel. A water absorbent comprising a cross-linked naturally derived polymer and a clay mineral, the water absorbent being characterized in that the cross-linked naturally derived polymer and the clay mineral form particles, the clay mineral is present in the interior of the particles, and the clay mineral content constitutes 10-100 parts by mass (when dry) relative to 100 parts by mass (when dry) of the cross-linked naturally derived polymer. It is possible to produce this water absorbent by preparing a starting material fluid in which the naturally derived polymer is dissolved and the clay mineral is dispersed, adding a cross-linking agent to the starting material fluid, and cross-linking the naturally derived polymer.

Compositions and methods are provided for improved wound healing. In particular, provided herein are compositions and methods for the direct delivery of Sirtuin-1 (Sirt1) or vectors encoding Sirt1 to the wounds (e.g., of diabetic patients). In some embodiments, provided herein are therapeutic devices comprising: (a) a vector encoding Sirtuin-1 (Sirt 1); and (b) a hydrogel carrier. In some embodiments, the vector comprises a viral vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding Sirt 1. In some embodiments, the vector comprises a non-viral vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding Sirt1.

Compositions and methods are provided for improved wound healing. In particular, provided herein are compositions and methods for the direct delivery of Sirtuin-1 (Sirt1) or vectors encoding Sirt1 to the wounds (e.g., of diabetic patients). In some embodiments, provided herein are therapeutic devices comprising: (a) a vector encoding Sirtuin-1 (Sirt 1); and (b) a hydrogel carrier. In some embodiments, the vector comprises a viral vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding Sirt 1. In some embodiments, the vector comprises a non-viral vector comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding Sirt1.

An extruded water-soluble article is made from homogeneous material that includes a water-soluble polymer having an extrusion temperature of 50 to 150 C. This relatively low extrusion temperature is compatible with actives that would otherwise be destroyed in a high temperature extrusion process. The article further includes between 0.1% to 50% by weight of an active agent. Potential active agents include, isothiazolone, alkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, a triazine, 2-thiocyanomethylthio benzothiazol, methylene bis thiocyanate, acrolein, dodecylguanidine hydrochloride, a chlorophenol, a quaternary ammonium salt, gluteraldehyde, a dithiocarbamate, 2-mercatobenzothiazole, para-chloro-meta-xylenol, silver-based compounds, chlorohexidine, polyhexamthylene biguanide, a n-halamine, triclosan, a phospholipid, an alpha hydroxyl acid, 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide, 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol, iodine, bromine, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, ozone, a botanical oil, a botanical extract, chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, farnasol, inulin, prebiotics, benzalkonium chloride, and combinations thereof. The article may be in the form of a film, and in one potential use, be disposed in an absorbent article.

An extruded water-soluble article is made from homogeneous material that includes a water-soluble polymer having an extrusion temperature of 50 to 150 C. This relatively low extrusion temperature is compatible with actives that would otherwise be destroyed in a high temperature extrusion process. The article further includes between 0.1% to 50% by weight of an active agent. Potential active agents include, isothiazolone, alkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, a triazine, 2-thiocyanomethylthio benzothiazol, methylene bis thiocyanate, acrolein, dodecylguanidine hydrochloride, a chlorophenol, a quaternary ammonium salt, gluteraldehyde, a dithiocarbamate, 2-mercatobenzothiazole, para-chloro-meta-xylenol, silver-based compounds, chlorohexidine, polyhexamthylene biguanide, a n-halamine, triclosan, a phospholipid, an alpha hydroxyl acid, 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide, 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol, iodine, bromine, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, ozone, a botanical oil, a botanical extract, chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, farnasol, inulin, prebiotics, benzalkonium chloride, and combinations thereof. The article may be in the form of a film, and in one potential use, be disposed in an absorbent article.

The present disclosure concerns a wound monitoring system for monitoring a bacterial 5 infection at a wound site, comprising a biosensing module that is contactable with the wound site, the biosensing module being configured to output a signal indicative of presence of at least one biomolecule released by bacterial cells at the wound site, and a readout circuitry coupled to the biosensing module for wirelessly transmitting the signal to an external device. The signal is a change in dielectric permittivity of the biosensing module. The present disclosure concerns a method of fabricating the wound monitoring system and a method of monitoring a bacterial infection at the wound.

The present disclosure concerns a wound monitoring system for monitoring a bacterial 5 infection at a wound site, comprising a biosensing module that is contactable with the wound site, the biosensing module being configured to output a signal indicative of presence of at least one biomolecule released by bacterial cells at the wound site, and a readout circuitry coupled to the biosensing module for wirelessly transmitting the signal to an external device. The signal is a change in dielectric permittivity of the biosensing module. The present disclosure concerns a method of fabricating the wound monitoring system and a method of monitoring a bacterial infection at the wound.

The present invention is directed to sanitary articles such as disposable diapers, adult incontinent pads, feminine hygiene products, and sanitary napkins comprised of biodegradable polymers with higher biobased content. The sanitary articles include a topsheet, an absorbent core, and a backsheet. The topsheet is comprised of biodegradable polyester polyol polymer foam which may be configured to wick liquid away from a wearer's body and may be impregnated with superabsorbent polymer. The absorbent core may be comprised of superabsorbent polymer including a cross-linked and/or partially neutralized polyacrylic acid polymer, cross-linked polyacrylic acids or cross-linked starch-acrylic acid graft polymers. The backsheet may be comprised of poly-lactone polymers having generally hydrophobic characteristics. In preferred embodiments, the polymeric materials comprising the topsheet, absorbent core, and backsheet are formed from raw materials with high biobased content.

Antibacterial nanofibres and methods for their preparation are described. Antibacterial nanofibres include as-spun alginate nanofibres treated with silver to generate silver-alginate nanofibres. Antibacterial nanofibres provided are useful components of wound dressings, wherein the wound dressings optionally further comprise malodor absorbing agents such as cyclodextrins.

A disposable absorbent article that includes an elastic film material. The elastic film resists the growth of a tear and include an SEEPS block copolymer having a T.sub.m of between about 10? C. and about 20? C. The film has a time-to-fail of greater than 1 hour.