A method for treating a wound, and a dressing for wound care management comprising a three-dimensional body of glass-based fibers comprising one or more glass-formers selected from the group consisting of P 2 O 5 , SiO 2 , and B 2 O 3 ; at least about 25 wt % of the fibers have a diameter between about 200 nm and about 4000 nm, and a length:width aspect ratio of at least about 10. In another form, the glasses are in the form of particles in an ointment or cream applied to a wound. In yet other forms the glasses are employed as fibers formed into sutures for closing a wound, or as particles in a surgical glue for closing a wound.
1. A flexible dressing for wound care management comprising:
a three-dimensional compressible body comprising loose biocompatible glass-based fibers comprising from about 40 to 80 wt % B 2 O 3 ;
at least about 25 wt % of the fibers have a diameter between about 200 nm and about 4000 nm, and a length:diameter aspect ratio of at least about 10.
2. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the glass-based fibers comprise no more than 18 wt % SiO 2 .
3. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the glass-based fibers comprise less than 0.1 wt % SiO 2 .
4. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the compressible body in its uncompressed state has a porosity of at least about 30% by volume.
5. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the compressible body in its uncompressed state has a porosity between 40 and 75 vol. %.
6. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises glass components selected from the group consisting of beads, microspheres, regular particles, irregular particles, ribbons, flakes, and hollow spheres.
7. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the compressible body has a surface area/bulk body volume in the relaxed, uncompressed state of the body of between about 1 and about 2000 cm −1 , such as between about 50 and about 500 cm −1 .
8. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the compressible body has a surface area/bulk body volume in the relaxed, uncompressed state of the body of between about 50 and about 500 cm −1 .
9. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the glass-based fibers further comprise one or more trace elements selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, F, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sr, and Zn in a concentration between about 0.05 and 10 wt % per trace element chemically dissolved in the biocompatible material.
10. The dressing of claim 9 wherein the one or more trace elements are homogeneously dispersed within the fibers and are thereby adapted to be time-released during biodegradation of said fibers.
11. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the glass-based fibers comprise:
from about 40 to about 80 wt % B 2 O 3 ;
one or more alkali oxides selected from the group consisting of Li 2 O, Na 2 O, K 2 O, and Rb 2 O; and
one or more alkaline earth oxides selected from the group consisting of MgO, SrO, BaO, and CaO.
12. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the glass-based fibers comprise:
from about 40 to about 80 wt % B 2 O 3 ;
one or more alkali oxides selected from the group consisting of Li 2 O, Na 2 O, K 2 O, and Rb 2 O in a cumulative concentration from 5 to 25 wt %; and
one or more alkaline earth oxides selected from the group consisting of MgO, SrO, BaO, and CaO in a cumulative concentration from 1 to 30 wt %.
13. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the compressible body comprises fibers of a first composition and fibers of a second composition distinct from the first composition.
14. A flexible dressing for wound care management comprising:
a three-dimensional compressible body comprising loose biocompatible glass-based fibers comprising from about 40 to about 80 wt % B 2 O 3 ;
at least about 25 wt % of the fibers have a diameter between about 200 nm and about 4000 nm, and a length:diameter aspect ratio of at least about 10;
between about 1 and about 25 wt % glass-based particles comprising a glass-former selected from the group consisting of P 2 O 5 , SiO 2 , B 2 O 3 , and combinations thereof, and having a diameter between about 10 and about 500 μm, wherein said particles are distributed among the fibers.
15. The dressing of claim 14 wherein the glass-based particles are microspheres.
16. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the fibers comprise Cu in a concentration between about 0.05 and 10 wt % chemically dissolved in the biocompatible material.
17. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the compressible body in its uncompressed state has a thickness between about 5 mm and about 30 mm.
18. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the compressible body is a layer.
19. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the compressible body is a layer having a length and a width which are between about 5 and about 30 times the thickness of the body.
20. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the glass-based fibers further comprise P 2 O 5 in a concentration of 0 to 10 wt %.