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Updated: May 3, 2026

Development of a Benchtop Model for Evaluating the Compatibility of Wound Dressing Materials with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Systems
Published on: May 2, 2025
The influence of different dressings on the pH of the wound environment
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Scotland, UK.
Objective:
This study examines the effect of various wound dressings on the pH levels of a wound, using a simulated wound environment.
Method:
The pH levels of a 4 different wound dressings (manuka honey dressing, sodium carboxymethylcellulose hydrofiber dressing, polyhydrated ionogen-coated polymer mesh dressing, and a protease modulating collagen cellulose dressing) were tested in a simulated horse serum wound environment. The effect of local buffering was observed and pH changes in real time were measured.
Results:
All dressings were found to have low pH (below pH 4), with the lowest being the protease modulating collage cellulose dressing, with a pH of 2.3. The dressing with the strongest acid concentration was the polyhydrated, ionogen-coated, polymer mesh dressing.
Conclusion:
The low pH and strong acidic nature of the dressing investigated indicate that they may play a role in influencing the healing process in a wound.
Declaration Of Interest:
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. This study was funded by the EPSRC.
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