Innovative Functional Biomaterials as Therapeutic Wound Dressings for Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Abstract

The imbalance of local and systemic factors in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) delays, or even interrupts, the highly complex and dynamic process of wound healing, leading to diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) in 15 to 25% of cases. DFU is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations worldwide, posing a huge threat to the well-being of individuals with DM and the healthcare system. Moreover, despite all the latest efforts, the efficient management of DFUs still remains a clinical challenge, with limited success rates in treating severe infections. Biomaterial-based wound dressings have emerged as a therapeutic strategy with rising potential to handle the tricky macro and micro wound environments of individuals with DM. Indeed, biomaterials have long been related to unique versatility, biocompatibility, biodegradability, hydrophilicity, and wound healing properties, features that make them ideal candidates for therapeutic applications. Furthermore, biomaterials may be used as a local depot of biomolecules with anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic, and antimicrobial properties, further promoting adequate wound healing. Accordingly, this review aims to unravel the multiple functional properties of biomaterials as promising wound dressings for chronic wound healing, and to examine how these are currently being evaluated in research and clinical settings as cutting-edge wound dressings for DFU management.

Thymol as a Component of Chitosan Systems—Several New Applications in Medicine: A Comprehensive Review

“…The para isomer thymohydroquinone (p-cymene-2,5-diol) (1) was predominant, whereas the ortho isomer p-cymene-2,3-diol (3) was detected in much smaller amounts after a longer extraction time from the urine sample. Thymohydroquinone then undergoes oxidation to thymoquinone (p-cymene-2,5-dione) (2), which is the main product of the phase I metabolism. The hydroxylation of the isopropyl group leads to the formation of an unstable p-cymene-3,8diol and the corresponding dehydration product (−H 2 O) thymol-8-ene (p-cymene-3-ol-8ene) (4), which, unlike its precursor, is also detected in human urine [58].…”

“…Functional biomaterials (FBs) are designed to exhibit specific properties [1]. Owing to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and hydrophilicity, they are used in many areas of life, as well as in medicine for therapeutic applications [2][3][4][5][6]. They can be of natural origin, synthetic, or composite forms [7,8].…”

Kick-Starting Wound Healing: A Review of Pro-Healing Drugs

“…The care of chronic wounds has seen major advancements over the years, particularly with improved surgical wound bed preparation [20][21][22] and better wound dressings [23]. Wound dressings incorporating novel biomaterials [24], altering fluid balance [25] and modifying the pH of the wound environment [26][27][28] have greatly improved outcomes for chronic wound patients. Importantly, chronic wounds are often a result of underlying pathology, and advances in the treatment of diabetes [29,30] and venous insufficiency [31] are some of the best ways to reduce the burden of chronic wounds.…”

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of biomaterials based on alginate and decametoxin against Staphylococus aureus and Escherichia coli

“…Найпростішим способом заміни бар'єрної функції неушкодженої шкіри є накладення пов'язки [1]. Перспективні біоактивні чи лікувальні ранові пов'язки з антимікробними властивостями виготовляють на основі біоматеріалів (природних або синтетичних матеріалів, створених для взаємодії з біологічними системами) з інтегрованими біоактивними молекулами (біоцидами) для досягнення контрольованого антибактеріального лікування [2,9,10].…”