'Medical textile' with military applications being developed
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
AHMEDABAD, Aug 28 (PTI): A "medical textile" that uses shrimp shells to promote rapid blood clotting and has military applications is being developed by a research body here.
The research done by the Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (ATIRA) could prove to be a boon for the military, as more than half of all combat deaths are caused by blood loss. The US Army currently uses similar shrimp-derived trauma dressing bandages in Iraq.
Mohammed S. Rahman, ATIRA's assistant director, said, "The shells of shrimp are a waste material of the seafood industry but they are one of the best sources of chitin. When chitin is purified, we get chitosan which has wide usage in the pharmaceutical field.
"In India there are some companies that can develop chitin. But at ATIRA, we have developed a chemical process by which chitin can be purified and turned into chitosan," Rahman told PTI.
Chitosan is a very effective "haemostatic" or blood clotting agent and accelerates wound healing. "Oozing of blood from minor cuts stops immediately when chitosan is applied and it also heals the wound quickly," he said.
ATIRA has entered into an agreement with Ahmedabad-based pharmaceutical company Meck Pharmaceutical and Chemicals for commercial production of chitosan-based products in India.
The research done by the Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (ATIRA) could prove to be a boon for the military, as more than half of all combat deaths are caused by blood loss. The US Army currently uses similar shrimp-derived trauma dressing bandages in Iraq.
Mohammed S. Rahman, ATIRA's assistant director, said, "The shells of shrimp are a waste material of the seafood industry but they are one of the best sources of chitin. When chitin is purified, we get chitosan which has wide usage in the pharmaceutical field.
"In India there are some companies that can develop chitin. But at ATIRA, we have developed a chemical process by which chitin can be purified and turned into chitosan," Rahman told PTI.
Chitosan is a very effective "haemostatic" or blood clotting agent and accelerates wound healing. "Oozing of blood from minor cuts stops immediately when chitosan is applied and it also heals the wound quickly," he said.
ATIRA has entered into an agreement with Ahmedabad-based pharmaceutical company Meck Pharmaceutical and Chemicals for commercial production of chitosan-based products in India.