Maintenance of proper moisture and regulation of
infection are simultaneously required to promote healing of
pressure ulcers. Continuous use of water-rich
ointment may often lead to excess moisture and induce edematous granulation tissue. Use of water soluble
ointment may excessively absorb exudates and induce dry granulation tissue. Selection of appropriate topical
ointment is desired to avoid worse clinical outcomes. For adjustment of
wound moisture a novel blended
ointment (
tretinoin tocoferil-
povidone-iodine (TR-PI)) was developed consisting of
emulsion base,
tretinoin tocoferil oil-in-water (o/w)
emulsion (TR-cream), and
sugar base,
povidone-iodine and
sugar (PI-
sugar). For the characterization of TR-PI water absorption was tested using Franz diffusion cell with
cellulose membrane. For rheological characteristics spreadability was tested using spread meter and yield value was calculated.
Iodine permeation was tested using a permeation cell with
silicon membrane. Water absorption rate constant of TR-PI with combination ratio of PI-
sugar at 75% (TR-PI75, 18.5 mg cm(-2) min(-0.5)) was equivalent to that of TR-cream alone (16.4 mg cm(-2) min(-0.5)). The yield value of TR-PI75 (26.1 Pa) exhibited intermediate values as compared to those of TR-PI with combination ratio of PI-
sugar at 50% (11.3 Pa) and TR-cream alone (46.8 Pa). The amount of released free-
iodine from TR-PI75 was similar to that released from PI-
sugar alone. TR-PI75 may have superior performance in keeping the moist environment in
wounds and in preventing
infection. TR-PI75 can be used to promote formation of favorable granulation tissue in
pressure ulcers with moderate exudates.