NEW DELHI: A team of experts at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) in Indian state of Assam has developed a low-cost eco-friendly wound dressing material by using fibers of banana.
The scientists led by Professor Devasish Chowdhury and Professor (Retd) Rajlakshmi Devi used banana stems, discarded during harvest of the fruit.
They combined the banana fibers with biopolymers to develop a multifunctional wound patch with excellent strength and antioxidant properties. Further, an extract from the Vitex negundo L. plant, is added in the patch.
According to the team all the materials used in making this state-of-the-art dressing material are natural and available at the local level, making the manufacturing process cost-effective, simple, and non-toxic.
Professor Chowdhury, in a statement said the development opens the door to a new era in injury healing, offering a low-cost, and environmentally friendly method that holds significant potential in biomedical research.
The team in a study, published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules said the banana composite wound dressing could revolutionize injury care with its broad applications and positive impact on health and the environment.
The dressing material presents a best solution for wound care and minimize environmental impact.
