Wound dressing

1 . A wound dressing comprising an absorbent core, the absorbent core comprising: a first group of superabsorbent particles, wherein the superabsorbent particles of the first group are encapsulated in a first water-soluble material, the absorbent core comprises a proximal layer and a distal layer and the first group of superabsorbent particles is comprised in the proximal layer, and wherein the distal layer is free of encapsulated superabsorbent particles.

2 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core comprises microcapsules having a core and a shell, wherein the core comprises a superabsorbent particle of the first group and the shell comprises the first water-soluble material.

3 . The wound dressing according to claim 2 , wherein the concentration of the microcapsules in the most proximal 10 vol.-% of the absorbent core is from 0.1 to 1500 g/m 2 .

4 . The wound dressing according to claim 2 , wherein the concentration of microcapsules in the proximal layer is from 0.1 to 17.0 g/m 2 .

5 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core comprises a layer of the first water-soluble material in which the first group of superabsorbent particles is embedded.

6 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the first water-soluble material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyoxazolines, starch and starch derivatives, polyureas, polyurethanes, polyethers, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, protein, modified polysaccharides, hydroxyalkyl celluloses, nonionic surfactants with a polyethylene residue, salts, and water-soluble combinations and water-soluble derivatives thereof.

7 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the distal layer comprises a carrier material selected from the group consisting of polyester, cellulose, polyurethan, polyethylene, polypropylene and combinations and derivatives thereof.

8 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the distal layer comprises a carrier material selected from the group consisting of non-woven, woven, warp-knitted, and weft-knitted material.

9 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core comprises a second group of superabsorbent particles which are not encapsulated by a water-soluble material.

10 . The wound dressing according to claim 9 , wherein the second group of superabsorbent particles form a substantially continuous positive concentration gradient through at least a portion of a thickness of the absorbent core between the proximal surface and the distal surface.

11 . The wound dressing according to claim 9 , wherein the distal layer comprises a carrier material and the second group of superabsorbent particles are distributed in the carrier material.

12 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core has a proximal surface and a distal surface and the majority of the superabsorbent particles of the first group are closer to the proximal surface than to the distal surface.

13 . The wound dressing according to claim 12 , wherein from 55% by weight to 100% by weight of the superabsorbent particles of the first group are closer to the proximal surface than to the distal surface.

14 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent particles of the first group form a substantially continuous negative concentration gradient through at least a portion of a thickness of the absorbent core between the proximal surface and the distal surface.

15 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal layer comprises channels.

16 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal layer comprises a polyester-based carrier material.

17 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the distal layer comprises a cellulose-based carrier material.

18 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 , wherein the distal layer is adjacent to the proximal layer.

19 . The wound dressing according to claim 1 comprising or consisting of

(a) a covering layer;

(b) the absorbent core on a wound-facing side of the covering layer, and

(c) a wound-contact layer on a wound-facing side of the absorbent core.

20 . An absorbent core for a wound dressing, wherein the absorbent core comprises a first group of superabsorbent particles which are encapsulated in a first water-soluble material, the absorbent core comprises a proximal layer and a distal layer and the first group of superabsorbent particles is comprised in the proximal layer, and wherein the distal layer is free of encapsulated superabsorbent particles.

21 . The absorbent core according to claim 20 , wherein the distal layer comprises a carrier material.

22 . The absorbent core according to claim 21 , wherein:

the proximal layer comprises a carrier material; and

the carrier material of the distal layer has a higher absorption capacity than an absorption capacity of the carrier material of the proximal layer.

23 . The absorbent core according to claim 21 , wherein:

the proximal layer comprises a carrier material; and

the carrier material of the proximal layer has better wicking properties than the carrier material of the distal layer.

24 . The absorbent core according to claim 21 , wherein the proximal layer comprises a polyester-based carrier material and the distal layer comprises a cellulose-based carrier material.