Biopolymers and treatment strategies for wound healing: an insight view

Abstract

Chronic, non-healing diabetic wounds put a massive economic burden on health services causing patient incompliance and discomfort. Thorough interpreting of chronic wound pathophysiology led to the fabrication of targeted systems of drug delivery that can improve and accelerate the wound healing process. Natural polymers or biopolymers are now explored for the fabrication of wound dressings. Hence, in this review article, the pathophysiological aspects of chronic wounds, current treatment approaches, and potential biomaterials employed for treating wounds are explicated. The main emphasis is on biopolymers which aid in creating innovative systems based on nanotechnology for effective skin generation in chronic wounds.

Graphical Abstract

Abbreviations: DFU: diabetic foot ulcer; ECM: extracellular matrix; GAG: glycosaminoglycans; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor; MMPs: matrix metalloproteinases; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; IL-6: interleukin-6; FGF: fibroblast growth factor; DLS: dynamic light scattering; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; XRD: X-ray diffraction; ATR: attenuated total reflection; FTIR: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy; TGF-β: transforming growth factor-β

Keywords:

• Biomaterials
• chronic wounds
• hydrogels
• nanotechnology
• patents
• scaffolds
• wound healing

Disclosure statement

There is no conflict of interest with reference to the publication of this paper.