Nanomaterials for Wound Healing

Despite the emergence of various new wound care products, millions of people continue to suffer from complications associated with acute and chronic wounds. Nanomaterials offer a variety of strategies to accelerate wound closure and promote appropriate progression through the stages of healing, which will be detailed in this review. The small size of nanomaterials enhances penetration and permeation of tissues and lends a large surface area-to-volume ratio, ideal for topical drug delivery. Furthermore, nanofibers may be utilized to create nanoscaffold wound dressings that simulate the topographic appearance of endogenous extracellular matrix, thereby stimulating wound reepithelialization and collagen production. Together, nanomaterials offer many approaches to reduce the morbidity associated with acute and chronic wounds, as demonstrated by a substantial body of pre-clinical data. Future investigations should aim to address the paucity of human clinical trial data, essential for translating wound-healing benefits from bench to bedside.