Conforming to Cure: Advances in Film-Forming Sprays for Targeted Wound Care

Wound care is still a critical clinical issue, mainly in the handling of chronic as well as drug-resistant injuries that need extended and targeted treatment. Traditional topical treatments often do suffer from limitations, like bad retention, irregular drug distribution, and less patient compliance. Film-forming sprays (FFS) have generally emerged as an alternative, offering several advantages such as uniform application, non-intrusive use, sustained drug release, and protective barrier formation. This review presents the definition and mechanism of film-forming sprays, their characterization, and several of the recent advancements within FFS technology, including the integration of a certain number of smart polymers, pH-responsive systems, and of many nanoparticle-based carriers for improved wound healing and antimicrobial efficacy. Despite their advantages, the translation of FFS into overall clinical practice is obstructed via formulation complexity, scalability issues, regulatory barriers, and a need for standardized evaluation protocols. Furthermore, effective wound care demands many solutions tailored for nearly all diverse wound environments. These FFS are at a higher rate being designed to address them. Research hereafter must focus on how to meet all these needs via interdisciplinary advances, by focusing on incorporating biodegradable substances, tailored treatments of, and multifunctional compounds. Sprays that form films are poised now to become a keystone in advanced systems for next-generation wound care. Keywords: Film-forming sprays (FFS), wound healing, sustained drug release, pH-responsive systems, nanoparticle carriers, smart polymers, biodegradable polymers, topical drug delivery, chronic wounds, antimicrobial efficacy.