Sprayable gel wound dressing
A sprayable hydrogel wound dressing composed of an aqueous solution of neutralized Carbopol and silver hydrosol of silver nanoparticles electrolytically formed from silver metal without the use or inclusion of organic materials. The hydrogel is sprayed with a physical barrier sprayer system which separates the hydrogel from the propellant. The hydrogel is thixotropic/shear thinning so that the viscosity of the hydrogel is sufficient reduced in the sprayer to allow spray formation and regains sufficient viscosity to resist running when deposited on a vertical surface.
1. A nanoparticle silver hydrogel sprayer system comprising:
a pressurized bag on valve sprayer comprising a pressurized container, a flexible bag within the pressurized container, and a valve operable to connect an inlet inside of the flexible bag with an outlet outside of the pressurized container;
an aqueous thixotropic/shear thinning hydrogel having an initial viscosity of about 8,000 to 10,000 cP and containing between 1-200 ppm total silver in the form of metallic silver nanoparticles wherein said silver nanoparticles have a surface of silver oxide and wherein said silver nanoparticles are produced electrolytically from silver metal without using any organic material, said hydrogel disposed inside of the flexible bag without propellant; and
a nozzle in fluidic communication with the outlet so that operation of the valve allows said hydrogel to be forced through the valve where shear forces temporarily reduce said hydrogel's viscosity from the initial viscosity thereby allowing said hydrogel to be dispersed by the nozzle as a mist or spray of fine droplets which then deposits on a surface to form a layer of hydrogel having a final viscosity about equal to the initial viscosity, said layer resistant to running or sagging.
2. The nanoparticle silver hydrogel sprayer system according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel comprises an aqueous solution of neutralized Carbopol.
3. A nanoparticle silver hydrogel sprayer system comprising:
a pressurized bag on valve sprayer comprising a pressurized container, a flexible bag within the pressurized container, and a valve operable to connect an inlet inside of the flexible bag with an outlet outside of the pressurized container;
an aqueous thixotropic/shear thinning hydrogel comprising neutralized Carbopol solution having an initial viscosity of about 8,000 to 10,000 cP and containing between 1-200 ppm total silver in the form of metallic silver nanoparticles wherein said silver nanoparticles have a surface of silver oxide and wherein said silver nanoparticles are produced electrolytically from silver metal without using any organic material, said hydrogel disposed inside of the flexible bag without propellant; and
a nozzle in fluidic communication with the outlet so that operation of the valve allows said hydrogel to be forced through the valve thereby where shear forces temporarily reduce said hydrogel's viscosity from the initial viscosity thereby allowing said hydrogel to be dispersed by the nozzle as a mist or spray of fine droplets which then deposits on a surface to form a layer of hydrogel having a final viscosity about equal to the initial viscosity, said layer resistant to running or sagging.
4. A method for furnishing a sprayable hydrogel comprising the steps of:
providing a pressurized sprayer wherein a propellant is physically separated from a sprayable material by a barrier;
selecting a thixotropic/shear thinning aqueous hydrogel of Carbopol having a viscosity between about 8,000 and 10,000 cP;
loading the thixotropic/shear thinning aqueous hydrogel into the pressurized sprayer as the sprayable material; and
operating the pressurized sprayer, the viscosity of the sprayable material being sufficiently low so as to enter into a spray nozzle of the pressurized sprayer where the viscosity is further reduced thereby generating a mist or spray of fine droplets which can deposit in a layer at least ⅛ inch thick when sprayed on a vertical surface.