Bacterial cellulose in the field of wound healing and regenerative medicine of skin: recent trends and future prospectives

• Published in: Polymer bulletin (Berlin, Germany) Germany), 2015-09, Vol.72 (9), p.2399-2419
• Main Authors: Kucińska-Lipka, J., Gubanska, I., Janik, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biocompatibility; Biomedical materials; Carbon; Cellulose; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Fibroblasts; Lignin; Mechanical properties; Organic Chemistry; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Regenerative medicine; Review; Soft and Granular Matter; Tensile strength; Tissue engineering; Wound healing
• ISSN: 0170-0839; 1436-2449
• DOI: 10.1007/s00289-015-1407-3

In this overview, we focused on the bacterial cellulose (BC) applications, described in recently published scientific papers, in the field of skin regenerative medicine and wound care industry. Bacterial cellulose was proven to be biocompatible with living tissues. Moreover, its mechanical properties and porous structure are considered to be suitable for biomedical applications. It is due to the fact that porous structure of bacterial cellulose mimics the extracellular matrix of the skin. Moreover, it can also hold the incorporated drugs and other modifiers, which can modulate its properties improving the bacterial cellulose antimicrobial activity which is rather poor for native BC. Bacterial cellulose reveals high hydrophilic properties and never dries, which is a desired property, because it was proven that wounds heal better and faster when the wound is being constantly moisturized. This characteristic of bacterial cellulose indicates that it may successfully serve as wound dressings and skin tissue scaffolds.