Ionic aggregates induced room temperature autonomous self-healing elastic tape for reducing ankle sprain

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Traditional kinesiology tape (KT) is widely used for ankle sprains but suffers from poor mechanical properties, adhesion, and water resistance.
• These limitations reduce the tape's longevity during physical activity and sweating, impacting its effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an advanced elastic tape with autonomous room-temperature self-healing capabilities.
• To create a material that overcomes the shortcomings of traditional KT for ankle sprain management.

Main Methods:

• Ionic aggregates were incorporated into a polymer matrix using electrostatic attraction between polymer colloid and polyelectrolyte.
• These aggregates act as physical crosslinks to enhance mechanical properties and enable self-healing at room temperature.

Main Results:

• The developed elastic tape exhibits a tensile strength of 3.7 MPa, 940% elongation, and 16.6 MJ·m⁻³ toughness.
• Achieved a 90% self-healing efficiency within 2 hours at room temperature, with adequate reversible adhesion in both dry and wet conditions.

Conclusions:

• The novel self-healing elastic tape demonstrates robust mechanical properties and skin adhesion, outperforming traditional KT.
• This material holds significant potential for applications in biomedical engineering, particularly for preventing and rehabilitating ankle sprains.