Review of advances in polymeric wound dressing films

Wound dressings represent the most common way to promote wound healing as they are non-invasive. They include films, hydrogels, hydrocolloids, hydroactives, foams, alginates and hydrofibers. Choosing one type over another depends on the wound depth and amount of exudate. Films are advantageous because they are flexible, easy to apply, allow some moisture evaporation, provide a barrier to external contamination, and endorse inspection of the wound bed without removing the dressing. This review article focuses on the topic of wound dressing films as drug delivery systems. It provides a summary of the preparation and characterization methods and highlights the most frequently used polymers for film fabrication. Moreover, it outlines and discusses recent developments regarding the active ingredients and nanosystems loaded into the wound dressing films with emphasis on the macromolecular structure. This work aims to guide researchers and developers into the selection of proper materials (polymers and active pharmaceutical ingredients), preparation processes, characterization techniques, and increase their understanding into how the desired product features can be reached.