Wound healing applications of nanomaterials

Abstract

This chapter first provides an overview of skin structure and its biological response to the tissue loss in wound healing process and reviews the classical and next‐generation scaffolds and materials that are used to minimize scar formation while accelerating the healing process. The chapter also provides a snapshot of the natural and synthetic biomaterials currently in clinical use in this field. Wound healing occurs in nearly all tissue types, and the order of events during the healing process is similar across different tissues. Natural materials are required to exhibit certain characteristics to be considered suitable for use as wound dressings. A large number of natural materials, such as collagen, gelatin, laminin, and chitin/chitosan, have been used as electrospun scaffolds for tissue engineering. Salient features of these materials are designed in an attempt to provide a desired niche for robust wound healing process.