Mechanomodulatory biomaterials prospects in scar prevention and treatment

Abstract

Scarring is a major clinical issue that affects a considerable number of patients. The associated problems go beyond the loss of skin functionality, as scars bring aesthetic, psychological, and social difficulties. Therefore, new strategies are required to improve the process of healing and minimize scar formation. Research has highlighted the important role of mechanical forces in the process of skin tissue repair and scar formation, in addition to the chemical signalling. A more complete understanding of how engineered biomaterials can modulate these mechanical stimuli and modify the mechanotransduction signals in the wound microenvironment is expected to enable scar tissue reduction. The present review aims to provide an overview of our current understanding of skin biomechanics and mechanobiology underlying wound healing and scar formation, with an emphasis on the development of novel mechanomodulatory wound dressings with the capacity to offload mechanical tension in the wound environment. Furthermore, a broad overview of current challenges and future perspectives of promising mechanomodulatory biomaterials for this application are provided. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Scarring still is one of the biggest challenges in cutaneous wound healing. Beyond the loss of skin functionality, pathological scars, like keloids and hypertrophic, are associated to aesthetic, psychological, and social distress. Nonetheless, the understanding of the pathophysiology behind the formation of those scars remains elusive, which has in fact hindered the development of effective therapeutics. Therefore, in this review we provide an overview of our current understanding of skin biomechanics and mechanobiology underlying wound healing and scar formation, with an emphasis on the development of novel mechanomodulatory wound dressings with the capacity to offload mechanical tension in the wound environment.

Keywords: Mechanics; Mechanobiological signalling; Mechanomodulatory biomaterials; Scar; Wound healing.