ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: With the development of chemical synthesis technology, the application of chitosan-based hydrogels as wound dressing has become a hotspot in current research. OBJECTIVE: To generally introduce the chitosan-based hydrogels and to review and summarize the application of chitosan-based hydrogels carrying antimicrobial agents in wound healing.METHODS: A computer retrieval of PubMed, Web of Science, Springerlink and Medline databases was performed with "chitosan hydrogel, wound healing, dressing, antimicrobial agents" as key words for relevant articles published from 2007 to 2016. Initially, 168 articles were retrieved, and finally 76 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Because of their inherent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, chitosan-based hydrogels possess the ability of absorbing exudates and forming thin film between the wound and the external environment, to exert their advantages for chronic, non-healing wounds caused by infection. Furthermore, chitosan-based hydrogels carrying antibacterial agents can inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the wound, accelerating the progress of wound healing. Moreover, the antimicrobial agents, including organic antibacterial agents and inorganic antibacterial agents (especially nano-silver), show unique advantages in wound healing and microbial resistance in combination with chitosan-based hydrogels.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: With the development of chemical synthesis technology, the application of chitosan-based hydrogels as wound dressing has become a hotspot in current research. OBJECTIVE: To generally introduce the chitosan-based hydrogels and to review and summarize the application of chitosan-based hydrogels carrying antimicrobial agents in wound healing.METHODS: A computer retrieval of PubMed, Web of Science, Springerlink and Medline databases was performed with "chitosan hydrogel, wound healing, dressing, antimicrobial agents" as key words for relevant articles published from 2007 to 2016. Initially, 168 articles were retrieved, and finally 76 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Because of their inherent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, chitosan-based hydrogels possess the ability of absorbing exudates and forming thin film between the wound and the external environment, to exert their advantages for chronic, non-healing wounds caused by infection. Furthermore, chitosan-based hydrogels carrying antibacterial agents can inhibit the growth of microorganisms in the wound, accelerating the progress of wound healing. Moreover, the antimicrobial agents, including organic antibacterial agents and inorganic antibacterial agents (especially nano-silver), show unique advantages in wound healing and microbial resistance in combination with chitosan-based hydrogels.