Recent Advances on Bacterial Cellulose-Based Wound Management: Promises and Challenges

Abstract

Wound healing is a therapeutic challenge due to the complexity of the wound. Various wounds could cause severe physiological trauma and bring social and economic burdens to the patient. The conventional wound healing treatments using bandages and gauze are limited particularly due to their susceptibility to infection. Different types of wound dressing have developed in different physical forms such as sponges, hydrocolloids, films, membranes, and hydrogels. Each of these formulations possesses distinct characteristics making them appropriate for the treatment of a specific wound. In this review, the pathology and microbiology of wounds are introduced. Then, the most recent progress on bacterial cellulose- (BC-) based wound dressing discussed and highlighted their antibacterial and reepithelization properties in vitro and in vivo wound closure. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives on the development of BC-based wound dressing biomaterials are outlined.

Wound Treatment Using Nanomaterials

“…Chitosan hydrogel was reported for its hemostatic properties [102]. Microbial cellulose is another natural nanoscale polymer that is produced as a hydrogel [103,104] useful for wound treatment. As-produced microbial cellulose hydrogel is evaluated as a skin substitute for treating burn wounds [105].…”

“…The BC-based composite hydrogels have the flexibility to adapt to the shape of the wound site and reduce the possibility of bacterial infection through the prevention of direct contact between the wound and the external environment [104]. In addition, the BC-based dressings showed better dermal burn treatment than silver sulfadiazine cream.…”

Bacterial Cellulose-Based Polymer Nanocomposites: A Review

“…At present, there are various wound dressings that can protect a wound from further injuries, or isolate the external environment in wound treatment [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 185 , 186 , 187 , 188 , 189 , 190 ]. An ideal wound dressing should facilitate healing, maintain moist environment, absorb exudates, support angiogenesis, allow gaseous exchange, prevent microbial infections, be comfortable, and cost-effective.…”

“…Due to its unique properties, BC is a promising material for industry and technology [ 18 ]. It has great potential to be used in medicine [ 4 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ] as a biomaterial for tissue engineering [ 20 , 23 , 24 ], wound dressing [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] and drug delivery systems [ 5 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], it can be applied in electronics (sensors, energy storage devices, speakers, acoustic membranes) [ 33 ], the environmental industry (water purification, filtration and adsorption techniques) [ 34 , 35 ], and the food industry (artificial food, additives, food packaging [ 36 ]. The relatively large diversity of cellulose-producing microorganisms, as well as a wide variety of cultivation methods, creates an excellent opportunity to modify and adjust the properties of the material and find new areas of its application.…”

Nanocellulose composite wound dressings for real-time pH wound monitoring

“…Development of new advanced wound dressing materials [ 33 , 34 ] and improved strategies for functionalization of the dressings [ 35 , 36 ] has paved the way for wound diagnostic strategies that limits the impact on wound healing [ 37 ]. Akbari and co-workers have reported a colorimetric pH-responsive alginate-based wound dressing obtained by loading pH indicators in ion-exchange beads that were trapped in the hydrogel matrix by electrostatic interactions [ 38 ].…”