High absorbable cassava starch/poly (Vinyl alcohol) sponge for medical applications

Abstract

© 2019, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. All rights reserved. Absorbable cassava starch-based sponges are prepared by freeze-drying method. The mixing solutions of cassava starch, poly (vinyl alcohol) and glycerol with various weight ratios are put in the freeze-dryer machine at-40 ºC for 24 h to change to sponge form with interconnecting porosity. The obtained sponge at 50/35-15 weight ratio of CS/PVA-glycerol is soft yet tough, foldable and tolerable to the hands, easy to manipulate and cut into the desired form. The results of porosity and water absorption test reveal high water absorption of the sponge with 67% of total porosity and 522% of water absorption. Iodine test and UV-Vis absorption show no starch dispersion into the medium after sponge immersion in PBS for 7 days. The blood absorbability of the sponge is higher than gauze and cotton pad in the same size. The results demonstrate that the prepared sponge could effectively be used as absorbable for medical applications.