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, UK2UMR 6522 CNRS/6037 CNRS, Université de Rouen, Faculté des Sciences, France

E mail: S.Mikhalovsky@brighton.ac.uk

4) replacement of the synthetic polymers in Food Packaging

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’

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

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.

2) in vivo use as human tissue regeneration scaffolds

A B C

(A) flax fibres, (B) and (C) flax fibres with S. aureus MRSA bacterium.

(B) Live (green) S. aureus MRSA bacterium adhering to flax fibres and

(C) dead (yellow) S. aureus MRSA following contact with flax fibres infused with an antimicrobial agent (2% chlorhexidine).

This may be indicative of a biocompatibility of flax fibres with human cells.

•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.

'Flax – Increasing Its Value for Society‘ - 'Le lin – augmenter sa valeur pour la société’