Scientists Develop Eco-Friendly Wound Dressing With Banana Fibers

NEW DELHI, (IANS) – A team of scientists at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology in Assam have developed an eco-friendly and low-cost wound dressing material using banana fibers.

The researchers led by Prof. Devasish Chowdhury and Prof. (Retd) Rajlakshmi Devi used banana pseudostems, which get discarded in abundance post-harvest.

They ingeniously combined the banana fibers with biopolymers like chitosan and guar gum to create a multifunctional patch with excellent mechanical strength and antioxidant properties.

All the materials used in creating this innovative dressing material are natural and locally available, making the manufacturing process simple, cost-effective, and non-toxic, the team said.

The banana fiber-biopolymer composite dressing could revolutionize wound care with its broad applications and positive impact on health and the environment, said the team in a study, published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

The wound dressing material presents a sustainable solution for wound care and may also benefit farmers and minimize environmental impact.