A review on polymeric hydrogel membranes for wound dressing applications: PVA-based hydrogel dressings

Abstract

This review presents the past and current efforts with a brief description on the featured properties of hydrogel membranes fabricated from biopolymers and synthetic ones for wound dressing applications. Many endeavors have been exerted during past ten years for developing new artificial polymeric membranes, which fulfill the demanded conditions for the treatment of skin wounds. This review mainly focuses on representing specifications of ideal polymeric wound dressing membranes, such as crosslinked hydrogels compatible with wound dressing purposes. But as the hydrogels with single component have low mechanical strength, recent trends have offered composite or hybrid hydrogel membranes to achieve the typical wound dressing requirements.

Keywords: Biomedical applications; Hydrogels; Membranes; Skin substituent; Wound dressings.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Developing of number of published researches in the last ten years, regarding the use of hydrogel membranes as wound dressings.

Fig. 2

Schematic representation of normal skin structure (a) and design of an ideal wound dressing membrane (b).

Fig. 3

Schematic representation of the role of hydrogel membrane materials for enhancing and accelerating the wound healing phases.

Fig. 4

Chemical structures of natural polymers and their derivatives which were employed formerly as hydrogels membranes for wound dressings or skin substitutes, (a. sodium alginate, b. chitosan, c. dextran, d. N-O-carboxymethyl chitosan, e. hydroxyethyl starch, f. glucan, g. hyaluronic acid, h. poly-N-acetylglucosamine, i. silk, j. gelatin).

Fig. 5

Chemical structures of synthetic polymers which were employed formerly as hydrogel membranes for wound dressings or skin substitutes, (a. polyvinyl alcohol, b. poly (N-isopropylacrylamide), c. poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone), d. polyethylene glycol, e. polyurethane).