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Abstract
Medical textiles is an emerging specialist field within the textile industry showing substantial growth in the amount of research attention it has attracted over the past ten years and it is becoming a rapidly-growing part of the textile industry. Much of the stimulus for its growth has arisen from the establishment of nanotechnology enabling the incorporation of nanoparticles into fibre-forming polymers before spinning into filament form, nanofinishing treatments allowing nanomaterials to be added to fabrics and electrospinning enabling the preparation of fibre-forming polymers into nanofibres and also the incorporation of nano-particulate agents into the electrospun nanofibres. The performance of the emergent materials, particularly of those relating to antimicrobial action, have shown substantial improvement over many of their traditionally-prepared counterparts, not least in relation to their durability, which is typically high for those where the nanoparticles were blended into the polymer prior to spinning, or where covalent bonding to the fibre surface was involved. Absorbable polymer implants in fibrous, nano-fibrous and continuous-filament form have also been the focus of considerable research attention because they reduce/eliminate the need for further invasive surgery for their removal, whilst strong, durable textile structures whose performance can be modelled and predicted, have been and are being developed for the replacement of tendons and for the construction of pressure garments and wound dressings. This review serves to categorise the various domains, explore the range of textile materials and devices either emerging or now in use in healthcare and offers recommendations for future project areas to move healthcare and the medical textile sector forward. A critical review is provided of single-use items of PPE and the lack of preparedness for the recent pandemic; solutions for circumventing the shortcomings of single-use items are presented.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following for their time and expertise in ensuring that the manuscript covering their respective fields were up-to-date and accurate; Dr Hussain Allawati, Mr Jason Braybrooke, Mr Neil Holland, Mr Harish Kurup, Ms Jessica Savage, Professor Douglas Tincello, Mr Deepak Vijayan, Mr Kevin Yeo and Mr Wai Yoon. Gratitude is also extended to Professor Raechel Laing (University of Otago) for her initial tuition in the field of medical textiles for HM and to the East Midlands Deanery, United Kingdom, who continue to provide excellent higher surgical training for the corresponding author.
Disclosure statement
There are no conflicts of interest to disclose. The authors do not personally endorse any products mentioned within the text.
Figure 8. Thromboembolic Stockings.
Figure 9. Casting of limb.
Figure 10. Components used when casting.
Figure 11. Examples of Personal and Protective Equipment.
Figure 12. Examples of surgical gloves.
Figure 13. Commonly used orthotics and splints.
Figure 14. Scoliosis Brace.
Figure 15. Healthcare Equipment; Ward Bed.
Figure 16. Dialysis Machine.
Table 1. Comparison of key requirements of N95, FFP2 and FFP3 respirators.