Natural polymer nanofiber dressings for effective management of chronic diabetic wounds: A comprehensive review

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2024-12, Vol.282 (Pt 2), p.136688, Article 136688
• Main Authors: Zhou, Zhengqing, Li, Chaofei, Zeng, Yue, Huang, Tianyue, Jiang, Xuewen, Yu, Deng-Guang, Wang, Ke
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bandages; biocompatibility; biodegradability; biopolymers; Chronic Disease; cost effectiveness; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic wounds; Electrospinning nanofiber dressings; extracellular matrix; Humans; nanofibers; Nanofibers - chemistry; Natural polymers; Polymers - chemistry; surface area; Wound Healing - drug effects; wound treatment
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.136688

Diabetic wounds present a chronic challenge in effective treatment. Natural polymer nanofiber dressings have emerged as a promising solution due to their impressive biocompatibility, biodegradability, safety, high specific surface area, and resemblance to the extracellular matrix. These qualities make them ideal materials with excellent biological properties and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, they can effectively deliver therapeutic agents, enabling diverse treatment effects. This review offers a comprehensive overview of natural polymer-based nanofibers in diabetic wound dressings. It examines the characteristics and challenges associated with diabetic wounds and the role of natural polymers in facilitating wound healing. The review highlights the preparation, mechanism, and applications of various functional dressings composed of natural polymer nanofibers. Furthermore, it addresses the main challenges and future directions in utilizing natural polymer nanofibers for diabetic wound treatment, providing valuable insights into effective wound management for diabetic patients. [Display omitted] •Summarized recent advancements in natural polymer-based electrospun nanofiber dressings for diabetic wound therapy.•The pathogenesis and challenges associated with diabetic wounds were described.•Discussed the properties of natural polymer nanofibers and highlighted their roles in diabetic wound therapy.•The review explored the mechanisms of functional therapeutic agents in diabetic wound healing and their treatment outcomes.•Potential developments and future research directions in the field were envisioned.