| abstract |
The present invention is directed to methods of making wound dressings thatninclude the steps of providing a solution of a water-soluble or water-swellablenbiocompatible polymer dissolved in a solvent for the polymer, providing a fabricnsubstrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, thenfabric having properties effective for use as a hemostat and containing fibersnprepared from a biocompatible polymer, contacting the fabric substrate with thenpolymer solution under conditions effective to distribute the polymer solutionnsubstantially homogenously on the first and second surfaces and through the fabricnsubstrate, transferring the fabric substrate having the polymer solution substantiallynhomogenously distributed there through to a lyophilization unit under conditionsneffective to maintain the homogeneous distribution on and throughout the substrate,nand lyophilizing the fabric having the polymer solution distributed there through,nthereby providing a porous, polymeric matrix substantially homogeneouslyndistributed on the first and second surfaces and through the fabric, the matrix beingnmade-up of the lyophilized water-soluble or water-swellable polymer. |