|
1
|
Yap KK, Murali M, Tan Z, Zhou X, Li L, Masen MA. Wax-oil lubricants to reduce the shear between skin and PPE. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11537. [PMID: 34078980 PMCID: PMC8173004 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91119-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged use of tight-fitting PPE, e.g., by COVID-19 healthcare workers leads to skin injuries. An important contributor is the shear exerted on the skin due to static friction at the skin-PPE interface. This study aims to develop an optimised wax-oil lubricant that reduces the friction, or shear, in the skin-PPE contact for up to four hours. Lubricants with different wax-oil combinations were prepared using beeswax, paraffin wax, olive oil, and mineral oil. In-vivo friction measurements involving seven participants were conducted by sliding a polydimethylsiloxane ball against the volar forearms to simulate the skin-PPE interface. The maximum static coefficient of friction was measured immediately and four hours after lubricant application. It was found that the coefficient of friction of wax-oil lubricants is mainly governed by the ratio of wax to oil and the thermal stability and morphology of the wax. To maintain long-term lubricity, it is crucial to consider the absorption of oil into the PPE material. The best performing lubricant is a mixture of 20 wt% beeswax, 40 wt% olive oil, and 40 wt% mineral oil, which compared to unlubricated skin, provides 87% (P = 0.0006) and 59% (P = 0.0015) reduction in instantaneous and 4-h coefficient of friction, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kian Kun Yap
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Manoj Murali
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Zhengchu Tan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Xue Zhou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Luli Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Marc Arthur Masen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Masen MA, Chung A, Dawczyk JU, Dunning Z, Edwards L, Guyott C, Hall TAG, Januszewski RC, Jiang S, Jobanputra RD, Karunaseelan KJ, Kalogeropoulos N, Lima MR, Mancero Castillo CS, Mohammed IK, Murali M, Paszkiewicz FP, Plotczyk M, Pruncu CI, Rodgers E, Russell F, Silversides R, Stoddart JC, Tan Z, Uribe D, Yap KK, Zhou X, Vaidyanathan R. Evaluating lubricant performance to reduce COVID-19 PPE-related skin injury. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239363. [PMID: 32970710 PMCID: PMC7514078 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthcare workers around the world are experiencing skin injury due to the extended use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. These injuries are the result of high shear stresses acting on the skin, caused by friction with the PPE. This study aims to provide a practical lubricating solution for frontline medical staff working a 4+ hours shift wearing PPE. METHODS A literature review into skin friction and skin lubrication was conducted to identify products and substances that can reduce friction. We evaluated the lubricating performance of commercially available products in vivo using a custom-built tribometer. FINDINGS Most lubricants provide a strong initial friction reduction, but only few products provide lubrication that lasts for four hours. The response of skin to friction is a complex interplay between the lubricating properties and durability of the film deposited on the surface and the response of skin to the lubricating substance, which include epidermal absorption, occlusion, and water retention. INTERPRETATION Talcum powder, a petrolatum-lanolin mixture, and a coconut oil-cocoa butter-beeswax mixture showed excellent long-lasting low friction. Moisturising the skin results in excessive friction, and the use of products that are aimed at 'moisturising without leaving a non-greasy feel' should be prevented. Most investigated dressings also demonstrate excellent performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc A. Masen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Chung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna U. Dawczyk
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zach Dunning
- Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Lydia Edwards
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Guyott
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A. G. Hall
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel C. Januszewski
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shaoli Jiang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Rikeen D. Jobanputra
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Maria R. Lima
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Idris K. Mohammed
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Manoj Murali
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Filip P. Paszkiewicz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Magdalena Plotczyk
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Catalin I. Pruncu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Euan Rodgers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Felix Russell
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Silversides
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer C. Stoddart
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zhengchu Tan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Uribe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kian K. Yap
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xue Zhou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ravi Vaidyanathan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|