Moisture-responsive films

Abstract

A moisture-responsive film can include a complexing substrate and an iodine layer applied to the complexing substrate to form the moisture-responsive film. The moisture-responsive film can include a test area formed on a testing surface of the moisture-responsive film.

1 . A system for detecting a moisture-related skin condition, the system comprising:
 a moisture-responsive film having a complexing substrate and an iodine layer disposed thereon, the iodine layer comprising a designated test area and a designated calibration area for detecting moisture on a skin surface of a user; and   instructions for directing the user to apply the moisture-responsive film to the skin surface for a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the designated calibration area comprises one or more calibration marks. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a skin drying material. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein skin drying material comprises a water-absorbent fabric, a paper-based towel, a disposable towelette including a drying solvent, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein instructions further direct the user to apply the skin drying material for a predetermined period of time prior to applying the moisture-responsive film to the skin surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is in a range from 1 second to 300 seconds. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more water standards for application to the designated calibration area to prepare one or more calibration marks. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein designated test area comprises a plurality of test areas. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the iodine layer is disposed on a first side of the complexing substrate, and the moisture-responsive film further comprises a backing layer positioned on a second side of the complexing substrate opposite the first side. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the complexing substrate comprises paper, fabric, a polymeric material, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the complexing substrate comprises a complexing material that forms a visualizable complex in presence of iodine and water. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the complexing material comprises a starch. 
     
     
         13 . A method of identifying features of a surface based on moisture content at the surface, the method comprising:
 contacting the surface to a designated test area of a moisture-responsive film for a predetermined period of time, the moisture-responsive film comprising a complexing substrate and an iodine layer disposed thereon, and comprising the designated test area and a designated calibration area; and   separating the surface from the moisture-responsive film to reveal an exposed test area.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising visually inspecting the exposed test area upon separating the surface from the moisture-responsive film. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising comparing a color of portions of the exposed test area with colors of the designated calibration area to determine the moisture content at portions of the surface corresponding to the portions of the exposed test area. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a moisture-responsive film, comprising:
 combining a complexing material with a substrate material to prepare a complexing substrate that forms a visualizable complex in the presence of iodine and water; and   applying a layer of iodine to the complexing substrate to form a moisture-responsive film having a designated test area and a designated calibration area.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein combining includes applying a complexing material coating to a surface of the substrate material to prepare the complexing substrate that forms a visualizable complex in the presence of iodine and water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein applying the layer of iodine comprises coating a complexing surface of the complexing substrate with a non-aqueous iodine solution. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein applying the layer of iodine comprises direct condensation of iodine vapor to a complexing surface of the complexing substrate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein applying the layer of iodine comprises coating a complexing surface of the substrate with an iodine coating layer.