FLAX FIBRES FOR HEALTH BENEFIT

1. FLAX FIBRES FOR HEALTH BENEFIT • I Allan1, C Morvan2, S. Alix2, S. Marais2, L. Lebrun2, L Mikhalovska1, S Mikhalovsky1 • 1Faculty of Science and Engineering , University of Brighton, Brighton, UK • 2UMR 6522 CNRS/6037 CNRS, Université de Rouen, Faculté des Sciences, France • E mail: S.Mikhalovsky@brighton.ac.uk 3) as drug delivery biomaterials The swelling rate of commercial cotton, and flax materials were compared. Flax fibre swelling appeared significantly higher than cotton fibre mainly due to the presence of encrusting polymers in flax that bear negative charges. After degumming the swelling decreased but remained slightly higher than cotton possibly due to the mercerization of cellulose. The total amounts of non-cellulosic substances (hemicelluloses and pectins) were measured using the colorimetric methods. Adsorption of Methylene blue (MB) per fibre specific surface area was measured. It was found that flax fibres adsorb MB in much higher quantities than cotton fibres. Flax fibres bound a dye much stronger that cotton fibres In this work we aimed to study the potential of biocomposites of flax fibres with mucilage for biomedical materials, drug delivery and food packaging 1) as reservoir/delivery of antimicrobial agents for post- surgical use 4) replacement of the synthetic polymers in Food Packaging • Bio-based materials, made only from renewable resources were investigated. • Natural biocomposite materials were prepared from a cross-linked natural matrix and natural fibres. • Non-woven flax fibres were chosen as a reinforcement substance. • Mucilage polysaccharides, extracted from linseeds, were used as a matrix. • A B C • flax fibres, (B) and (C) flax fibres with S. aureus MRSA bacterium. • Live (green) S. aureusMRSA bacterium adhering to flax fibres and • dead (yellow) S. aureusMRSAfollowing contact with flax fibres infused with an antimicrobial agent (2% chlorhexidine). • 2) in vivo use as human tissue regeneration scaffolds • Conclusions • Flax fibres were found to be efficient reservoirs for antimicrobial agents or other drugs due to their high swellability and charged surface and could be used for biomedical applications such as sutures and wound dressings. • Natural composites from flax fibres and flax derived mucilage may be used for food packaging. • Acknowledgements • This work is funded by the Interreg IVA (South) project 4044 • 'Flax – Increasing Its Value for Society‘ - 'Le lin – augmenter sa valeur pour la société’ Human skin cells were grown on flax fibres. A vast increase in cell numbers was observed between 3-18 days. Fibronectin deposition (green, above left) indicates a potential for cell remodelling of the fibres by production of nascent extra-cellular matrix. This may be indicative of a biocompatibility of flax fibres with human cells. 'Flax – Increasing Its Value for Society‘ - 'Le lin – augmenter sa valeur pour la société’