The properties of an activated carbon-containing agarose film for the amelioration of 2-amino acetophenone malodour as produced in chronic wounds infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Malodorous chronic wounds are associated with significant patient morbidity and can be responsible for patient social isolation and depression. A new material with favourable physical properties for easy application to difficult-to-access bodily surfaces was tested for its ability to reduce the human detection of malodorous 2-aminoacetophenone, the dominant odour associated with chronic ulcers infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The material consisted of activated carbon (AC) particulates held within a plasticised agarose (PA) film. This material, PA-AC, was relatively thin and could be folded and cut to shape without appreciable loss of the AC particulates. In a study using human volunteers, the intensity of 2-AAP odour was (strongly) significantly lower for the PA-AC material when compared with controls. Additionally, mechanical studies indicated that the presence of AC did not alter the extension at maximum load, maximum load, or percentage elongation of the PA films, with no statistically significant difference between PA-AC and PA. Supplementation of the agarose films (with or without AC) with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) enabled fluid handling to be increased by 176 and 163%, respectively. PA-AC, PA and PA-AC-CMC, PA-CMC were able to allow water vapour transmission suggestive of breathable materials that would not cause tissue maceration via sweat retention if applied clinically. A range of agarose films with variable odour and fluid handling properties are envisaged for further development towards wound management applications.