Chapter 23 - Chitosan and chitosan-based biomaterials for wound management

Abstract

In wound management, dressing materials play a vital role by inhibiting bleeding, maintaining a moist environment, removing excess exudates, and protecting the wound from environmental discomforts. Although there are a number of dressing materials available, biopolymer-based dressing materials have advantages like biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and support to cell growth and proliferation over synthetic dressing materials. Chitosan is a biopolymer which has some intrinsic properties particularly suitable for wound management. It is hemostatic, analgesic, bacteriostatic, fungistatic, and permeable to oxygen. It also promotes tissue regeneration and differentiation which accelerates wound healing. Chitosan can be modified easily to form its derivatives and biocomposites in different forms like film, hydrogel, membrane, sponge, scaffold, etc. with enhanced properties effective in wound treatment. This book chapter describes the current and future potential of chitosan, its derivatives, and chitosan-based biocomposites in wound healing applications. Stages of wound healing and different properties of chitosan that are advantageous for wound management are also discussed here.