# Advanced Materials to Improve Moisture Management for Prosthetic Socket Liners

> **NIH VA I01** · LOUIS STOKES CLEVELAND VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · —

## Abstract

In modern prosthetics a suction liner provides a mechanical connection to the rigid
socket by “gripping” the residual limb of the patient by either skin traction or suction.
Conventionally, liners are made from materials that are impermeable to water such as
silicone and polyurethane. Prolonged moisture accumulation inside the liner adversely
affects fit and contributes to issues such as maceration (tissue softening from constant
water exposure), breakdown, and infection, as well as issues of comfort and hygiene. 
Managing this issue could revolutionize the clinical implementation of this widely used
suspension system.
We propose to develop a new type of advanced-material prosthetic liner system that
maintains skin traction and suction but also absorbs, wicks, channels, and manages the
water from sweat. This material will improve clinical practice by providing a more stable,
comfortable, and less problematic interface between the limb and socket. Our objective
is to develop a highly cross-linked prototype hydrated material system, for use in place
of the water-impermeable silicone liner, to maintain airless skin traction and suction
while managing sweat and keeping a static volume in relation to water content. This
new liner material will require the development of two advanced materials, a sweat-
transporting medium incorporating silicone cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposites
(CNCs), and a polymer/clay aerogel which can absorb and retain moisture until it is
deliberately removed. Both of these materials will be developed and tested to optimize
their mechanical and sweat-diffusion properties. Finally, these materials will be layered
along with a third, sealant layer made of standard liner silicone into a three-layered
prototype for further mechanical, sweat management, durability, and regeneration
testing as well as hygiene examination coupled to functional evaluation of the material in a rigid 
walking boot. Improving water management in this critical component will fundamentally
improve standard of care for a large population of lower and upper limb amputees.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10316147
- **Project number:** 5I01RX001833-05
- **Recipient organization:** LOUIS STOKES CLEVELAND VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Clay Kelly
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-01-01 → 2022-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10316147

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10316147, Advanced Materials to Improve Moisture Management for Prosthetic Socket Liners (5I01RX001833-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10316147. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*