Antimicrobial Biohybrid Nanofibrous Wound Dressings

Globally, chronic wounds impose a notable burden to patients and healthcare systems. Such non-healing wounds are readily subjected to bacteria that provoke inflammation and hence challenge the healing process. Furthermore, bacteria induce infection impeding re-epithelialization and collagen synthesis, thereby increasing hospital stay and costs. Appropriate wound dressing materials alleviate the infection incidence and accelerate the healing process. In this regard, biopolymeric nanofibers show promising potential for prevention of infection and promotion of the healing rate. They are biocompatible and mostly biodegradable and biomimic the extracellular matrix structure. Also, they provide a high surface area, surface nanoporosity, and the ability to deliver drugs and antibiotics locally into the wound milieu. Drug delivery by nanofibers has proved efficient in the control of infection. Yet, due to emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, there is an urgent need to replacing the antibiotic delivery systems with other reliable options such as bionanohybrids containing antimicrobial nanoparticles/ions, nature-derived compounds and biofunctional agents. Here, the most recent (since 2015) developments of antimicrobial biopolymeric nanofibrous wound dressings, particularly those based on bionanohybrids, are reviewed and evaluated in terms of antimicrobial efficiency. Lastly, the prospects and challenges are discussed to draw a roadmap for further progresses in this area.