The skin provides a protective barrier to the body against the environment. Ineffective healing of damaged skin can cause a chronic wound which would increase the risk of infection and associated complications. The use of wound dressings to protect the wound and provide an optimal environment for wound repair is a common practice in the burn clinic. While traditional wound healing dressings have substantially changed the wound outcome, wound healing complications are still a challenge to healthcare. Advancements in tissue engineering, biomaterial sciences, and stem cell biology led to the development of novel dressings that not only dress the wounds but also actively contribute to the process of healing. This review discusses the various properties of the emerging wound dressings that are designed in attempts to improve wound care upon skin injury.
Keywords: Emerging dressings; Smart dressing; Tissue regeneration; Wound healing.