Chapter 15 - Alginate-based wound dressings for skin healing and regeneration

Abstract

The management of wounds is expensive and challenging. Most of the currently used wound dressings are limited and are not effective for the management of chronic wounds. Biopolymers such as alginate offer several advantages such as good biocompatibility, biodegradable, and nontoxic. It is used in combination with synthetic polymers to prepare wound dressings with outstanding properties that promote wound healing. Different forms of wound dressings have been designed from alginate, and these wound dressings have been reported to display distinct features, such as excellent absorption of excess wound exudates, provide a moist environment for accelerated wound healing, prevent bacterial invasion at the wound site, and support skin regeneration. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the different forms of alginate-based wound dressings.