In September, we organised a public webinar focusing on pressure sensitives tape adhesives for the medical industry. Maithri Lakkimsetti, Product Line Manager of Corporate Adhesive Solutions in India, facilitated the session, while Rajesh Chidambaram, Business Development Manager of Tapes & Labels and Prashant Koshti, Business Development Manager of PSA Tapes & Specialties in South Asia, presented their insights on the topic.

Maithri started the session with the mention of notable global trends impacting the healthcare industry. These include an increasingly ageing population worldwide, higher demand for efficient treatment and healing, escalating health costs, and increased chronic disease. On the other hand, we have also observed more attention being given on healthcare and medical needs, including the advent of user-friendly monitoring and preventive care solutions as well as better access to wearable medical devices. At the same time, Fortune Business Insights has forecasted that Asia Pacific’s medical tape industry is expected to emerge as the fastest-growing region between 2021 and 2028 due to the rising number of surgeries and high demand for tapes.

With the increasing demand for better and more accessible healthcare, there is a great need for medical manufacturers to keep close compliance with industry standards. Bostik’s medical adhesives are certified in ISO10993-5 (cytotoxicity testing), ISO 10993-10 (irritation and sensitisation testing), and IS 4717 (zinc-oxide evaluation). These pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are categorised into four main solutions – HMUV PSAs, water-based acrylic PSAs, hot melt PSAs (HMPSAs), and solvent-based PSAs. During the webinar, Rajesh and Prashant covered how hot melt and solvent-based PSAs can offer tape manufacturers a competitive edge in the healthcare industry.

On hot-melt pressure sensitive adhesives, Rajesh shared more on Bostik Thermogrip® HM2110, a solution that reduces contamination of skin and inflammation levels. This adhesive can be used in broad application areas such as wound care and devices.

Bostik Thermogrip® HM2110 has been proven to be bio-compatible, suitable for various face stock substrates, and offers better skin adhesion and excellent holding power without hurting during the peel-off. Compared to other solutions in the market, the adhesive is more stable in ageing performance. Similar adhesives from other brands in the market also showed poor yellowing, poor mass transfer behaviour, cohesion failure, and even the possibility of permanence on the tape.

As for solvent-based pressure sensitive adhesives, Prashant introduced the Bostik ArosetTM range, a series suitable for low trauma application. Bostik ArosetTM 951052 reduces the complication of trauma to sensitive skin, pain levels experienced, and contamination chances on the skin surface. The adhesive, which was produced with safety as a priority, can be sterilised using standard methods and helps eliminate any silicone contamination risks.

To gauge pain level for this low trauma adhesive, Bostik gathered feedback from volunteer of multiple studies. The results indicated that the average pain score with Bostik ArosetTM 951052 was similar to conventional silicone control adhesives, each attaining an average score of 1.9 and 1.6 out of 3, respectively. This is much lower than the pain score from conventional Aroset for self-adhesive bandages, typically around 2.6.

The last segment of the webinar was for the attendees to ask questions. We’ve included some of them here, with the answers, and we hope they’re useful for your reference:

Question 1: What is the shelf life of Bostik ArosetTM 951052 and when will it be available in the Asia Pacific?

Answer: The adhesive offers a relatively long shelf-life of 12 to 13 months from the manufacturing date. It is set to be available in the region soon.

Question 2: Can HMPSAs in microporous tapes be used for low trauma applications?

Answer: Factors such as the moisture level in the patient’s skin must be considered for this to be possible. However, it is not recommended. Do opt for solvent-based PSAs, instead of HMPSAs, as the go-to solution for low trauma.

Question 3:  Is Bostik HMUV PSAs available in India, and on extension, the Asia Pacific?

Answer: This range of solutions is currently only available in North America, but we plan on bringing it to Asia Pacific sometime in 2023. Stay tuned!

For more information, please visit www.bostik.com