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Review
. 2021 Dec;109(12):1967-1985.
doi: 10.1002/jbm.b.34861. Epub 2021 May 17.

Enhancing wound healing dressing development through interdisciplinary collaboration

Briauna Hawthorne  1 , J Kai Simmons  1 , Braden Stuart  1 , Robert Tung  1 , David S Zamierowski  1 , Adam J Mellott  1
Affiliations
Review

Enhancing wound healing dressing development through interdisciplinary collaboration

Briauna Hawthorne et al. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

The process of wound healing includes four phases: Hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Many wound dressings and technologies have been developed to enhance the body's ability to close wounds and restore the function of damaged tissues. Several advancements in wound healing technology have resulted from innovative experiments by individual scientists or physicians working independently. The interplay between the medical and scientific research fields is vital to translating new discoveries in the lab to treatments at the bedside. Tracing the history of wound dressing development reveals that there is an opportunity for deeper collaboration between multiple disciplines to accelerate the advancement of novel wound healing technologies. In this review, we explore the different types of wound dressings and biomaterials used to treat wounds, and we investigate the role of multidisciplinary collaboration in the development of various wound management technologies to illustrate the benefit of direct collaboration between physicians and scientists.

Keywords: biomedical engineering; interdisciplinary teams; negative pressure wound therapy; wound dressings; wound healing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ms. Hawthorne has no conflict of interest to disclose. Mr. Simmons has no conflict of interest to disclose. Mr. Stuart has no conflict of interest to disclose. Dr. Tung has no conflict of interest to disclose. Dr. Zamierowski reports relevant financial activity from KCI, Inc., outside the submitted work. In addition, Dr. Zamierowski has a patent 4,969,880 sold to KCI, and a patent 7,976,519 with royalties paid by KCI. Dr. Mellott reports relevant financial activity from Zam Research LLC and from Ronawk LLC, outside the submitted work. In addition, Dr. Mellott has a patent Expandable cell culture substrate (WO2018044990A1) licensed, and a patent Biopsy punch device and method (US201802349988A1) pending.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Contact layers. Contact layer dressings provide a cover over of the wound that allows wound fluid such as blood and exudate to flow through to a secondary dressing
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Semipermeable films. Semipermeable films are transparent, fluid impermeable wound dressings that allow the exchange of O2, CO2, and water vapor between the wound and the environment
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Hydrocolloids. Hydrocolloid dressings are usually opaque wound dressings that provide moisture to the wound by gelling on contact with wound fluid such as blood and exudate
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Hydrogels. A transparent amorphous hydrogel filling a cavitary wound is illustrated above. Hydrogels provide moisture to a wound and deliver soothing relief with via a cooling sensation
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Foams. Foam wound dressings absorb blood and exudate, while allowing for the exchange of water vapor and gas between the environment and the wound bed
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Negative pressure wound therapy. Negative pressure wound therapy involves the creation of a sub‐atmospheric environment in the wound, which enables wound edges to come together, facilitates fluid drainage, and stimulates fibroblasts and epithelial cell activity. The vacuum device is not pictured
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
A timeline of the issuance of patents for various wound healing technology companies
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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