Polymeric biomaterials-based tissue engineering for wound healing: a systemic review

Abstract

Background Biomaterials are vital products used in clinical sectors as alternatives to several biological macromolecules for tissue engineering techniques owing to their numerous beneficial properties, including wound healing. The healing pattern generally depends upon the type of wounds, and restoration of the skin on damaged areas is greatly dependent on the depth and severity of the injury. The rate of wound healing relies on the type of biomaterials being incorporated for the fabrication of skin substitutes and their stability in in vivo conditions. In this review, a systematic literature search was performed on several databases to identify the most frequently used biomaterials for the development of successful wound healing agents against skin damage, along with their mechanisms of action. Method The relevant research articles of the last 5 years were identified, analysed and reviewed in this paper. The meta-analysis was carried out using PRISMA and the search was conducted in major scientific databases. The research of the most recent 5 years, from 2017–2021 was taken into consideration. The collected research papers were inspected thoroughly for further analysis. Recent advances in the utilization of natural and synthetic biomaterials (alone/in combination) to speed up the regeneration rate of injured cells in skin wounds were summarised. Finally, 23 papers were critically reviewed and discussed. Results In total, 2022 scholarly articles were retrieved from databases utilizing the aforementioned input methods. After eliminating duplicates and articles published before 2017, ~520 articles remained that were relevant to the topic at hand (biomaterials for wound healing) and could be evaluated for quality. Following different procedures, 23 publications were selected as best fitting for data extraction. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for this review illustrates the selection criteria, such as exclusion and inclusion parameters. The 23 recent publications pointed to the use of both natural and synthetic polymers in wound healing applications. Information related to wound type and the mechanism of action has also been reviewed carefully. The selected publication showed that composites of natural and synthetic polymers were used extensively for both surgical and burn wounds. Extensive research revealed the effects of polymer-based biomaterials in wound healing and their recent advancement. Conclusions The effects of biomaterials in wound healing are critically examined in this review. Different biomaterials have been tried to speed up the healing process, however, their success varies with the severity of the wound. However, some of the biomaterials raise questions when applied on a wide scale because of their scarcity, high transportation costs and processing challenges. Therefore, even if a biomaterial has good wound healing qualities, it may be technically unsuitable for use in actual medical scenarios. All of these restrictions have been examined closely in this review.

High‐resolution 3‐D scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of DOTTM polynucleotides (PN): Unique scaffold characteristics and potential applications in biomedicine

“…They also mentioned that the scaffold should be highly biocompatible with negligible chronic immune responses, lasting no more than 2 weeks. [50][51][52] Also, the scaffold should possess similar mechanical properties as the tissue it is being implanted into. Tensile testing and compressive testing are the conventional methods that need to be done to further evaluate the compatibility of a scaffold for its intended purpose.…”

“…additionally stated that a scaffold should have a biodegradation rate proportional to the rate of new tissue formation and exit the body without interfering with other tissues and organs. They also mentioned that the scaffold should be highly biocompatible with negligible chronic immune responses, lasting no more than 2 weeks 50‐52 …”

Biomaterials-Based Strategies to Enhance Angiogenesis in Diabetic Wound Healing

“…178 Not only small molecule compounds are used in angiogenesis, but also synthetic polymers have also been explored for their ability to enhance angiogenesis. 179 Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) are commonly utilized polymers in biomaterial-based approaches. They can be used to deliver angiogenic factors, such as VEGF and FGF, in a controlled manner, providing sustained release and localized delivery to promote angiogenesis.…”

“…Not only small molecule compounds are used in angiogenesis, but also synthetic polymers have also been explored for their ability to enhance angiogenesis . Poly­(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly­(lactic acid) (PLA) are commonly utilized polymers in biomaterial-based approaches.…”

Application of stem cells in regeneration medicine

“… 19 , 20 , 21 The whole process is relatively long and can have a negative psychological impact on the patient. 22 Large, chronic, and hard‐to‐heal skin wounds caused by severe trauma or radiation burns 23 cause physiological dysfunction of the body that is prone to further infection, 24 seriously affecting the quality of life of patients. 25 , 26 Moreover, the healing of bone injury is a major concern in current medical research.…”