Natural and Sustainable Polymers for Regenerative Wound Care: A Review of Chitosan, Gelatin, and Cellulose

The field of skin tissue engineering has rapidly advanced in recent years. This advancement has been driven by the increasing need to address biocompatibility, fabrication techniques, antimicrobial properties, hemostatic properties, and porosity of the materials used for tissue repair and regeneration. This review focuses on three common materials for scaffold fabrication in skin tissue engineering, cellulose, chitosan, and gelatin. As the most common natural organic polymer on Earth, cellulose is a readily available and renewable material that is distinguished by a remarkable combination of advantages. These advantages include biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewability, and good mechanical strength, rendering it a nontoxic and environmentally friendly substance. The benefits of chitosan include its antimicrobial and hemostatic properties, while gelatin enhances cell adhesion and proliferation, contributing to the scaffold’s overall biocompatibility. The inherent porous structure of these materials supports fluid flow, cell infiltration, and nutrient transport, creating a conducive environment for tissue repair and regeneration. In addition, this review highlights improved techniques in fabricating a durable scaffold. It also addresses the challenges in fabrication, such as controlling the pore size and uniformity of the pores and structure within the scaffold. This is crucial for cell growth and tissue regeneration. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of tissue repair and underscore the importance of using scaffolds and multilayered materials in skin tissue regeneration. Further research in skin tissue engineering will be essential for overcoming existing challenges and realizing the full potential of cellulose, chitosan, and gelatin in tissue engineering.