Bioactive wound powders as wound healing dressings and drug delivery systems

Powders are commonly used dosage forms for drug delivery through nasal, pulmonary, and oral routes. Recently, bioactive wound powders (BWPs) have attracted considerable attention as wound dressings and drug delivery systems because of their features like high stability, rapid effect, applicability on deep or irregular-shaped wounds, exudate absorption, in-situ hydrogel formation, and no need for dressing change. Medicinal plants, drugs, and animal-derived compounds such as proteins and extra cellular matrices can be formulated to BWPs. Furthermore, various biopolymers can be used to formulate BWPs with desired properties. The increasing number of clinical trials, patents, and marketed products necessitate a review about BWPs. The current review outlines design aspects of BWPs including composition, flowability, fluid uptake, in-situ hydrogel formation, adhesion to wound, and interaction of particles with wound environment, as well as their fabricating techniques, sterilization method, and packaging. Moreover, we highlight commercialized products, ongoing clinical trials, and patents.

Automated summary

Powders are commonly used for drug delivery, and bioactive wound powders (BWPs) have gained attention for wound dressings and drug delivery systems. BWPs have features such as stability, rapid effect, applicability to various wounds, exudate absorption, in-situ hydrogel formation, and no need for dressing change. This review discusses the composition, properties, fabricating techniques, and commercialized products of BWPs.