New UV switchable adhesive creates pain-free plaster removal

UK manufacturer, Itac, is partnering a Scandinavian firm in the production of a new adhesive that could make the painful removal of plasters a thing of the past.

The patented adhesive is applied to a polyurethane film, to create medical plasters, which behave like ordinary sticking plasters in respect to adhesion, water resistance and ageing. Crucially, however, due to its special formulation and a light-catalysed crosslinking process, the new adhesive transforms from sticky to non-sticky when the dressing is exposed to UV-A light.

This unique feature makes this adhesive film particularly suitable for anyone with sensitive or damaged skin, and potentially the first choice for others who simply prefer pain-free plaster removal.

The brief required a manufacturing partner with the flexibility to make low volume quantities of the material within tightly controlled conditions, which were protected from light. Itac was able to provide the right environment, plant and facilities plus a team with a high understanding of industrial coating processes, to ensure the finished formulation could be successfully applied in standard coating conditions.

Itac undertook the project, creating the required product, with the coated film now ready for stability and full dermal and medical testing.

Paul Armitt, Itacʼs Managing Director, said: “We pride ourselves on our ability to create advanced adhesives, requiring critical manufacturing techniques. Our size and adaptability make Itac an ideal choice for high quality, bespoke, initial batches and subsequent production runs.”