In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization Methods for Evaluation of Modern Wound Dressings

Abstract

Chronic wound management represents a major challenge in the healthcare sector owing to its delayed wound-healing process progression and huge financial burden. In this regard, wound dressings provide an appropriate platform for facilitating wound healing for several decades. However, adherent traditional wound dressings do not provide effective wound healing for highly exudating chronic wounds and need the development of newer and innovative wound dressings to facilitate accelerated wound healing. In addition, these dressings need frequent changing, resulting in more pain and discomfort. In order to overcome these issues, a wide range of affordable and innovative modern wound dressings have been developed and explored recently to accelerate and improve the wound healing process. However, a comprehensive understanding of various in vitro and in vivo characterization methods being utilized for the evaluation of different modern wound dressings is lacking. In this context, an overview of modern dressings and their complete in vitro and in vivo characterization methods for wound healing assessment is provided in this review. Herein, various emerging modern wound dressings with advantages and challenges have also been reviewed. Furthermore, different in vitro wound healing assays and in vivo wound models being utilized for the evaluation of wound healing progression and wound healing rate using wound dressings are discussed in detail. Finally, a summary of modern wound dressings with challenges and the future outlook is highlighted.

Sequential Anti-Infection and Proangiogenesis of DMOG@ZIF-8/Gelatin-PCL Electrospinning Dressing for Chronic Wound Healing

“…The DMOG@ZIF-8 particles in the fibers decomposed with the degradation of gelatin (Figure f), entering the moist wound environment and subsequently releasing Zn 2+ (Figure g) and DMOG (Figure h), which were targeted for antibacterial and angiogenesis promotion, respectively. It is noteworthy that the DZGP fiber membrane exhibited a DMOG release of only 22% in the first 3 days, significantly lower than the DMOG/Gel-PCL (DGP) fiber membrane (73%), and its release period could extend beyond 12 days (Figure h), covering the essential stages of hemostasis, inflammation, and proliferation during the wound-healing process . This result confirms that ZIF-8 with high porosity effectively delays drug release, thereby enhancing the drug utilization efficiency and therapeutic efficacy.…”

“…It is noteworthy that the DZGP fiber membrane exhibited a DMOG release of only 22% in the first 3 days, significantly lower than the DMOG/Gel-PCL (DGP) fiber membrane (73%), and its release period could extend beyond 12 days (Figure 2h), covering the essential stages of hemostasis, inflammation, and proliferation during the wound-healing process. 37 This result confirms that ZIF-8 with high porosity effectively delays drug release, thereby enhancing the drug utilization efficiency and therapeutic efficacy.…”

Characterization and In Vivo Assay of Allantoin-Enriched Pectin Hydrogel for the Treatment of Skin Wounds

“…In hydrogels intended for the development of wound dressings, dynamic rheological/mechanical analysis is very important, because viscoelastic properties provide information about the internal network structure of the dressing material [ 25 , 46 , 47 ]. Figure 1 a shows the viscosity curve regarding the shear rate.…”

“…So, the behavior of the evaluated samples is that of a viscoelastic solid (gel). In the case of hydrogels for wound dressing, the value of the G′ should be greater than G”, indicating stable gel structure (network); because if G″ is greater than G′ with increasing strain, it indicates the destruction of the hydrogel network [ 25 , 46 ]. Based on this, the hydrogel will present a structural stability that will not help present phase separation or sedimentation of the components.…”

Foam dressing and micropower vacuum dressing promote diabetic foot ulcer wound healing by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in rats

“…8 Modern dressings are designed and developed on the principle of promoting healing in moist environments, offering advantages such as reduced necrosis, faster healing, autolysis, debridement, and prevention of cross-infections when compared to traditional dressings like gauze, antiseptic cotton, and bandages. 9 Currently, wet dressings include hydrogels, hydrocolloids, films, alginates, and foams. 10 Foam dressing (FD) as an alternative to hydrocolloid dressings is applied in wound with pressure, exudation or excessive granulation.…”