Laminates composed of polypeptides and elastomers as a burn wound covering. Physicochemical properties

Laminates of synthetic polypeptides and elastomers, have been prepared, characterized and evaluated in terms of their application as a burn wound covering. It was found that the oxidation of L-methionine(Met)-containing polypeptide films by hydrogen peroxide led to an increase in the water vapour transmission rates (WVTR's) of the films. Elastomeric films had high WVTR's and good tensile properties for wound covering. The laminates composed of oxidized Met-containing copolypeptides and polyurethane had high WVTR's (790-1050 g X m-2 X day-1): for example, the laminate composed of an oxidized Met and N epsilon-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine containing copolypeptide and polyurethane had high WVTR (960 g X m- X d-1) and large elongation (556%), also the cohesion between the two layers of this laminate was strong even after autoclaving. These characteristics seem to be very attractive for the possible application of laminates to wound covering. In addition the method of measuring WVTR is discussed.