Recent developments in finishing of synthetic fibers for medical applications

Abstract

Demand for antimicrobial fabrics has grown significantly in recent years because of public awareness of the potential threat of spreading diseases and there will be an increasing role for medical textiles in the future world market. The number of applications of polymeric materials for medical purposes is growing very fast. Polymers have found applications in such diverse biomedical fields as tissue engineering, implantation of medical devices and artificial organs, prostheses, ophthalmology, dentistry, bone repair and many other medical fields. Polymer-based delivery systems enable controlled release of drugs into the body. The aim of the present review is to clarify the antimicrobial agents and their mechanism of action, test methods, and the recent developments in antimicrobial functional finishing of synthetic fibers for medical applications (commercially available bioactive fibers). © 2008 Koninklijke Brill NV.