2057
Modeling Hypochlorous Acid Generation on Carbon Fabric Surface

Tuesday, 15 May 2018: 15:40
Room 616 (Washington State Convention Center)

ABSTRACT WITHDRAWN

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) can be electrochemically generated on carbon fabric surfaces made from carbon fibers for wound healing purposes and removing biofilms. HOCl is an oxidizer and deproteinizer with antimicrobial activity that gives carbon fabric surfaces biocidal properties. HOCl is of particular interest in wound disinfection as it offers lower toxicity, and lower irritability to mammalian cells than other biocidal agents such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). In principle, carbon fiber surfaces can be typically applied on the infected wound or biofilms grown in test surfaces. In this work, a COMSOL Multiphysics ® finite element model of HOCl generation on carbon fabric surface is developed. In addition, we developed a new all-in-one microelectrode to measure local HOCl concentrations. The new microelectrode offers accurate measurements on polarized carbon surfaces due to its robustness against potential perturbations caused by the electric field generated on polarized carbon fiber surface. The novel microelectrode is used to 1) measure depth profiles and 2) probe local variations near the electrode surface using cyclic voltammetry. The model kinetic parameters are fit to experimental local HOCl concentrations on the surface of the working electrode of the carbon fabric in phosphate buffer saline (PBS). The predicted parameters are integrated to the model to predict HOCl and Cl- concentrations as function of time. In addition, the time needed to reduce the buffer capacity is determined. This information is of interest as it provides the experimenter with tools to determine the application time necessary to reach an effective HOCl concentration required to eradicate biofilm or the point in time when replenishing of Cl- is needed.