Polymer-Based Biomaterials for Wound Healing: Advances in Natural, Synthetic and Hybrid Biodegradable Polymers for Scar Reduction and Skin Regeneration

The management of skin wounds resulting from trauma and different pathophysiological diseases still presents a major challenge in healthcare, which greatly contributes to the worldwide economic burden. Recently, wound dressings based in nanotechnology and polymeric systems have emerged as a viable option to improve the healing process. Natural Biodegradable polymers, which include collagen, cellulose, chitosan (CS), and hyaluronic acid (HA), have shown high biocompatibility and efficacy in promoting wound healing. Despite these advantages, wound dressings made of biodegradable synthetic polymers provide a promising alternative by overcoming the limitations of natural polymers and displaying desired properties for skin wound treatment. The synthetic polymers include polycaprolactone (PCL), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polylactic acid (PLA), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and polyglycolic acid (PGA). These polymers are biocompatible, present a versatile chemical structure, and are easily modified to obtain distinct mechanical properties and degradation rates. Overall, these polymers are less expensive than natural polymers. This review outlines the optimal management and care required for wound treatment with a special focus on natural and synthetic biopolymers, drug-delivery systems, and nanotechnologies used for enhanced wound-healing applications