Chapter 12 - New hybrid materials for wound cover dressings

Abstract

Currently, there exist more than 500 wound cover dressings (WCDs) of various compositions and purposes. Recent developments do not fully comply with modern medical requirements and therefore the dominant research trend is to search for composite hybrid materials based on biocompatible natural and synthetic polymers. To create various WCD compositions it is necessary to choose the base material (collagen, cellulose, etc.) and biologically active compounds (BACs) (metal nanoparticles, plant extracts, individual compounds) with confirmed individual biological activity (antimicrobial, antioxidant, proliferative, regenerative). Collagen (Col) and collagen-containing materials are the most useful biomaterials for clinical applications. The presence of functional groups on the surface of the protein allows for modification and improvement of its properties, such as the ability to crosslink and form a composite with other functional synthetic or natural polymers and BAC. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a renewable, affordable raw material for various medical applications. Compared to synthetic materials, BC has high water-holding ability, permeability to gases and liquids, and absence of impurities, ensuring its good biocompatibility with living tissues. The large porosity and surface area make it possible to modify the matrices of BC. Functional groups present on the surface of biopolymers can act as anchors and stabilizing agents for various ions and metal NPs. Biologically active metal NPs do not cause resistance in microorganisms and are active against multi-resistant bacteria and fungi that cause wound infections. Obtaining metal NPs using metal-vapor synthesis (MVS) eliminates the use of toxic solvents. The process is a technologically closed cycle and relates to environmentally friendly chemistry (green chemistry). Materials obtained using MVS technology have shown antibacterial and antifungal efficiency.