Polymeric biomaterials for wound healing

Abstract

Skin indicates a person’s state of health and is so important that it influences a person’s emotional and psychological behavior. In this context, the effective treatment of wounds is a major concern, since several conventional wound healing materials have not been able to provide adequate healing, often leading to scar formation. Hence, the development of innovative biomaterials for wound healing is essential. Natural and synthetic polymers are used extensively for wound dressings and scaffold production. Both natural and synthetic polymers have beneficial properties and limitations, so they are often used in combination to overcome overcome their individual limitations. The use of different polymers in the production of biomaterials has proven to be a promising alternative for the treatment of wounds, as their capacity to accelerate the healing process has been demonstrated in many studies. Thus, this work focuses on describing several currently commercially available solutions used for the management of skin wounds, such as polymeric biomaterials for skin substitutes. New directions, strategies, and innovative technologies for the design of polymeric biomaterials are also addressed, providing solutions for deep burns, personalized care and faster healing.

Hydrogels in Cutaneous Wound Healing: Insights into Characterization, Properties, Formulation and Therapeutic Potential

“…They maintain constant and homogeneous physicochemical properties, often displaying excellent mechanical properties and controlled degradation [ 5 , 11 , 17 , 39 , 40 ]. Some synthetic polymers, such as polyesters, are biodegradable and generally more cost-effective compared to natural polymers [ 40 ] and have more abundant sources of raw materials [ 5 ]. However, unlike natural polymers, which are biologically inert, synthetic polymers carry the associated toxicity risk and may present biocompatibility issues [ 17 , 39 , 40 ].…”

“…Moreover, these materials often require surface treatment or combination with natural polymers to improve cytocompatibility, as they exhibit weak cellular interactions. Surface treatments aim to reduce hydrophobicity through chemical alterations or enhance cell adhesion by adding adhesion peptides, for example [ 40 ]. The most commonly used strategy involves combining synthetic and natural polymers [ 5 , 9 , 40 , 41 ], as the latter contribute to their natural biological activity due to their similarity to tissues and the native ECM [ 20 , 40 ].…”

“…Surface treatments aim to reduce hydrophobicity through chemical alterations or enhance cell adhesion by adding adhesion peptides, for example [ 40 ]. The most commonly used strategy involves combining synthetic and natural polymers [ 5 , 9 , 40 , 41 ], as the latter contribute to their natural biological activity due to their similarity to tissues and the native ECM [ 20 , 40 ]. They mimic the natural microenvironment of cells in the human body, facilitating processes such as cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation [ 20 ].…”

“…PEG is often referred to as a “stealth material” [ 220 ], due to its resistance to protein adsorption [ 17 , 39 , 40 ], and it generally resists cell attachment because of its higher affinity for water binding [ 221 ]. Regarding its tissue adhesion capability, little is known about PEG on its own.…”

Formulative Study and Characterization of Novel Biomaterials Based on Chitosan/Hydrolyzed Collagen Films

“…Biopolymeric films have additional properties, in comparison with conventional dressing [ 13 ], such as supporting the cells involved in the wound healing process, stimulating the processes of migration, proliferation and differentiation [ 6 ], protecting and releasing drugs in a controlled manner, and exhibiting bioactive properties that enhance the healing process [ 14 , 15 ]. They can be prepared by the solvent casting technique, which stands out for its simplicity and inexpensive performance [ 16 ].…”