Haemostatic materials for wound healing applications

Wounds are one of the most common health issues, and the cost of wound care and healing has continued to increase over the past decade. The first step in wound healing is haemostasis, and the development of haemostatic materials that aid wound healing has accelerated in the past 5 years. Numerous haemostatic materials have been fabricated, composed of different active components (including natural polymers, synthetic polymers, silicon-based materials and metal-containing materials) and in various forms (including sponges, hydrogels, nanofibres and particles). In this Review, we provide an overview of haemostatic materials in wound healing, focusing on their chemical design and operation. We describe the physiological process of haemostasis to elucidate the principles that underpin the design of haemostatic wound dressings. We also highlight the advantages and limitations of the different active components and forms of haemostatic materials. The main challenges and future directions in the development of haemostatic materials for wound healing are proposed. Uncontrolled bleeding is a major cause of death, incentivizing the development of biomaterials that aid haemostasis and wound healing. This Review highlights the active components and forms of haemostatic materials, with a focus on their chemical design, and considers future trends in their development.

Automated summary

Wounds are a common health issue, and the cost of wound care and healing has been increasing. Hemostasis is the first step in wound healing, and various forms and components of hemostatic materials have been developed. Future directions in the development of hemostatic materials focus on addressing challenges in wound healing.