Effect of chitosan and natural materials on properties of polyvinylchloride for blood bags applications

Abstract Polyvinyl chloride is the most common material used in the manufacture of blood bags, and chitosan and wheat extract were used to improve the biological, physical, mechanical and optical properties of the manufactured blood bag. Chitosan was added at three concentrations (1, 2, and 3%) to the PVC matrix sample, and the wheat extract was supplemented to the sample having the highest properties to study its effect. It was found that the addition of chitosan led to an increase in tensile strength, as well as a significant increase in inhibition against the bacterial activity of two types of bacteria (S. aureus and C. albicans), and the ability to absorb water, but the addition of wheat extract led to a very small decrease in absorbency. Also, the supplement of chitosan and wheat extract reduced the transparency of the manufactured blood bag. All samples were characterized as not having the ability to non-hemolytic in the hemolysis test. All the results of polymer blends and polymer composite were compared with the pure PVC and commercial blood bags as reference samples.