6 - Multilayer films for reducing bleeding and infection

Abstract

Bleeding and infection resulting from traumatic wounding are significant contributors to mortality and morbidity, necessitating the development of advanced bandages capable of their treatment in the field. It is desirable to embed or coat bandages with hemostats and antimicrobials to create a portable, lightweight, and durable field dressings. Nano- to micrometer-scale thin films assembled from aqueous solutions by the layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of polymers, proteins, or drugs can conformally coat a variety of substrates with high drug loadings and tunable release kinetics. To address the therapeutic needs of uncontrolled bleeding and bacterial infection, several LbL films have been developed with a variety of drugs and tunable release kinetics. Herein, examples of LbL films developed to establish hemostasis, fight infection, or the combination thereof, are reviewed with a discussion of the rationale behind their components and architectures.