Recent developments in fibres and materials for wound management

Abstract

During the last thirty years, occlusive dressings have brought a revolution in wound management. The most important advantage of an occlusive dressing is the creation of a moist wound environment which is believed to be beneficial for wound healing. This concept has resulted in a rapidly growing world-wide market for dressings with a variety of characteristics. This review focuses on the high performance fibres and materials currently used in the fabrication of wound care products. These range from natural and modified polysaccharides and proteins to synthetic materials. The products include the most popular materials currently on the market and those patented with future potential in terms of performance and commercial value. The composition, chemistry during manufacture, physical and medical characteristics, advantages and limitations during application have been reported. Based on the present research and existing products, some new and futuristic approaches, especially in the

development of novel fibres for wound healing, have been proposed.