Rheolgy and Adhesion for Medical Applications Laboratory – LERAM

The adhesion on biological tissue is complex if we link at the function of the strength the different functions as comfort (follow deformation of the skin, pump the sweat or exudates, no pain during removing…). Adhesive and susbstrate must be studied in the same time. This is in this context that Physics and Chemical Polymer team a part of the IPREM laboratory (UMR CNRS 5254) of the University of Pau and URGO Laboratories whishe to build an original collaboration in the aim to (i) develop an original research around formulation of adhesives dedicated to medical applications (heal and dermatology) and (ii) elaborate methods to characterize wound dressings.

Objectives of the common laboratory will focus on three axis:
- Elaborate new original adhesives based on virtual formulation derivative from macromolecular design. During the 15 last years, scientists have shown the strong relationship between structure of (co)polymer based of Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) and end-use properties. It is well admitted that the linear properties are the base of the approach of the virtual formulation. Nevertheless, it is clear that the non-linear properties pilot the entering behavior of PSAs. So, two scales must be considered in the surrounding of the common laboratory. The first one concerns the different functions act by wound dressings: the formulation of the adhesive part of wound dressing much take into account these functions. The second one concerns virtual approach to formulate the adhesive. This approach uses molecular dynamics models (derived from the reptation concept) which are well known for polymers and block copolymers classically used for PSAs. The “inversion” of these models allows to design new macromolecules destined to a dedicated application.
These steps enable to increase scientific and technical expertises of the two parts of the common laboratory in the considered area.

- Characterize the properties of these materials as well as the assembly with human skin, and particularly their evolution during the time. An important work has already been proposed to follow linear properties of wound dressings. Some efforts must be made to control non-linear properties as well as measurements and modeling. In the same time, we propose to elaborate new concept for measurement of evolution of rheological properties vs time. These new methods must help understanding phenomena linked to adhesion on human skin.

- Modeling of non-linear properties. This part concerns the durability of the common laboratory. To make durable the common laboratory, we will have to resolve the “missing link” which allows to describe precisely the non-linear behavior from the molecular structure. This step will be able to use the knowledge of the academic part. We estimate that we could propose robust models integrating formulation and usable by industrial partner.