Ramirez Cadavid David A, Layman Rick R, Nishino Thomas, Slutzky J Lauren, Li Zhenyu, Cornish Katrina
Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691, USA.
Department of Imaging Physics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, 1400 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Materials (Basel). 2022 Feb 4;15(3):1184. doi: 10.3390/ma15031184.
Existing natural latex radiation-attenuating gloves (RAGs) contain a high loading of radiation attenuation filler that reduces their mechanical properties to below Food and Drug Administration (FDA) medical glove requirements. RAGs are commonly formulated using Hevea natural rubber latex and lead-based fillers. The former can cause life-threatening allergic responses and the latter are known for their toxicity. In this work, a new lead-free RAG formulation based on circumallergenic guayule natural rubber latex (GNRL) and non-toxic radiation attenuation filler bismuth trioxide (BiO) was developed. GNRL films with BiO loadings ranging from 0 to 300 PHR at different thicknesses were prepared. Radiation attenuation efficiencies (AE) at 60, 80, 100, and 120 kVp were determined and attenuation isocontour curves predicted film thickness and BiO loading required to meet or exceed the radiation attenuation requirements of ASTM D7866 and commercial RAGs. Optimal curing conditions for GNRL/BiO films with 150 PHR BiO were investigated by varying curing temperatures and time from 87 °C to 96 °C and 65 min to 90 min, respectively. In general, as the loading of the filler increased, the density of the films increased while the thickness decreased. GNRL/BiO films with 150 PHR BiO and 0.27 mm provided 5% more AE than RAG market average attenuation at the same thickness. The films with 150 PHR BiO cured under near-optimal conditions (90 °C/85 min, and 87 °C/65 min) met both the radiation attenuation standard (ASTM D7866) and the natural latex surgeon and examination glove standards (ASTM D3577 and D3578, respectively). Thus, gloves made using our formulations and protocols demonstrated potential to meet and surpass medical natural latex glove standards, offer a single product for both infection control and radiation protection instead of double-gloving, provide a greater degree of comfort to the user, and simultaneously reduce contact reactions and eliminate potential latex allergic reaction.
现有的天然乳胶辐射防护手套（RAGs）含有高负载的辐射衰减填料，这使其机械性能降低到低于美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）医用手套的要求。RAGs通常由三叶橡胶天然胶乳和铅基填料制成。前者可引发危及生命的过敏反应，而后者则因其毒性而闻名。在这项工作中，基于具有抗变应原性的银胶菊天然橡胶胶乳（GNRL）和无毒辐射衰减填料三氧化二铋（Bi₂O₃）开发了一种新型无铅RAG配方。制备了不同厚度、Bi₂O₃负载量范围为0至300 phr的GNRL薄膜。测定了60、80、100和120 kVp下的辐射衰减效率（AE），衰减等值线曲线预测了满足或超过ASTM D7866和商用RAGs辐射衰减要求所需的薄膜厚度和Bi₂O₃负载量。通过分别将固化温度从87℃变化到96℃、固化时间从65分钟变化到90分钟，研究了含150 phr Bi₂O₃的GNRL/Bi₂O₃薄膜的最佳固化条件。一般来说，随着填料负载量的增加，薄膜的密度增加而厚度减小。含150 phr Bi₂O₃且厚度为0.27 mm的GNRL/Bi₂O₃薄膜在相同厚度下比RAG市场平均衰减提供了多5%的AE。在接近最佳条件（90℃/85分钟和87℃/65分钟）下固化的含150 phr Bi₂O₃的薄膜既符合辐射衰减标准（ASTM D7866），也符合天然乳胶外科医生手套和检查手套标准（分别为ASTM D3577和D3578）。因此，使用我们的配方和方案制成的手套显示出满足并超越医用天然乳胶手套标准的潜力，提供一种用于感染控制和辐射防护的单一产品而非双层手套，为使用者提供更高程度的舒适度，同时减少接触反应并消除潜在的乳胶过敏反应。
