Cosmetic gloves from natural rubber latex for upper limb prostheses: preparation and physicochemical, mechanical and biological characterization

Upper limb amputations are frequently the result of traumatic events, often associated with car accidents or incidents involving industrial machinery. The development of prosthetic technologies is essential to provide physical assistance to amputees and offer psychological support. In such circumstances, cosmetic gloves can be utilized to improve personal and social comfort by enhancing visual characteristics similar to those of a biological hand. In this work, we developed formulations based on natural rubber latex (NRL) with antibacterial properties by the incorporation of an additive consisting of zinc oxide coated with silver nanoparticles to manufacture cosmetic gloves designed for upper limb prostheses. The dispersion efficiency of the additive was investigated by microscopic techniques. Tensile and tear strength tests, Shore A hardness measurements, swelling indices, hydrophobicity and inhibition of bacterial growth were also conducted to ascertain the suitability and adaptability of the developed material for integration into the daily activities of patients. Moreover, processing parameters for the immersion molding production of cosmetic gloves were assessed and validated, highlighting the crucial relationship between manufacturing techniques and material properties. Overall, the results indicated that the combination of the additive with a high crosslinking density of NRL effectively improved the material mechanical properties, resulting in a tensile strength of up to 20.7 MPa and a tear strength of approximately 40 kN m−1. In addition, and according to the antibacterial tests, the gloves exhibited bacteriostatic effects against Staphylococcus aureus and bactericidal effects against Escherichia coli. As a conclusion, the dataset indicates that the manufactured cosmetic gloves can be used to covering upper limb prostheses. Additionally, it underscores the considerable potential for the cosmetic glove manufacturing industry through the use of appropriate formulations and processing techniques for NRL.