Energy conversion in Textus Bioactiv Ag membrane dressings using Peusner’s network thermodynamic descriptions

Abstract

Background. The Textus Bioactiv Ag membrane is an active dressing for the treatment of chronic wounds such as venous stasis ulcers and burns.Objectives. Determination of the transport and internal energy conversion properties of the Textus Bioactiv Ag membrane using the Kedem-Katchalsky-Peusner model. This model introduces the coefficients L ij necessary to calculate the degree of coupling (l ij , Q L ), energy conversion efficiency (e ij ), dissipated energy (S-energy), free energy (F-energy), and internal energy (U-energy). Materials and methods.The research material was the Textus Bioactiv Ag membrane that is used as an active dressing in the treatment of difficult-to-heal wounds, and KCl aqueous solutions. The research methods employed Peusner's formalism of network thermodynamics and Kedem and Katchalsky's thermodynamics of membrane processes. To calculate the L ij coefficients, we used hydraulic conductivity (L p ), diffusion conductivity (ω) and reflection (σ) coefficients to perform experimental measurements in different conditions.Results. The L p coefficient for the Textus Bioactiv Ag membrane is nonlinearly dependent on the average concentrations of the solutions. In turn, the ω and σ coefficients are nonlinearly dependent on the differences in osmotic pressures (∆π). An increase in the ∆π causes the Textus Bioactiv Ag membrane to become more permeable and less selective for KCl solutions. The coefficients of Peusner (L ij ), couplings (l ij , Q L ), energy conversion efficiency (e ij ), S-energy, F-energy, and U-energy also depend nonlinearly on ∆π. Our results showed that for higher concentrations of KCl solutions transported through the Textus Bioactiv Ag membrane, the coupling and energy conversion coefficients were greater for larger ∆π up to their maximum values for large ∆π. Coupling of the membrane structure with the electrolyte flux through the membrane is observed for ∆π greater than 10 kPa.Conclusions. Textus Bioactiv Ag membrane dressings possess the properties of a solution component separator as well as an internal energy converter.

A method for evaluating the transport and energy conversion properties of polymer biomembranes using the Kedem–Katchalsky–Peusner equations

“…Several papers 5,7,8,13,17 focused on estimating the entropy source in membrane systems used equations derived from the Kedem-Katchalsky formalism, while others presented entropy calculations for bacterial nanocellulose and Textus Bioactiv biomembranes used as active dressings. [18][19][20] The product of S-entropy production and absolute temperature (T) is termed the dissipation function and is a measure of energy dissipation in non-equilibrium processes.…”

Evaluation of Transport Properties and Energy Conversion of Bacterial Cellulose Membrane Using Peusner Network Thermodynamics

“…Examples of such membranes are those made of regenerated cellulose (Nephprophan and Cuprophan) and bacterial cellulose (Biofill) [24][25][26]. The values of these coefficients for compound and ion-exchange membranes (Nafion and Textus bioactiv) are concentration-dependent [27][28][29][30].…”