Researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) have achieved a significant breakthrough by developing a new method of converting banana pseudo-stems, which are typically discarded as agricultural waste, into a sustainable material for wound dressings.
The study, published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, describes how a combination of banana fibres, chitosan and guar gum (or guaran) was successfully used to create a versatile dressing with remarkable mechanical strength and antioxidant properties.
Professor Devasish Chowdhury, the lead researcher on the project, emphasised that this innovative approach represents a significant milestone in the field of wound healing.
He further stated that this discovery, which offers a cost-effective, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly alternative, has the potential to revolutionize biomedical research.