Stimuli-responsive Systems for Wound Healing

Abstract

Skin lesions and reducing their healing times are important health issues that require more efficient treatments and improvements to the current therapies. A wound is any type of rupture in the cohesion of layers of skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) or subcutaneous tissue that can be caused by physical or chemical factors. Wounds can be classified as acute or chronic. Acute wounds refer to a group of wounds that are usually superficial and heal completely within 6 to 12 weeks, but chronic wounds require more than 12 weeks to be healed. Wound healing takes place through a complex and advanced mechanism, as a result of passing through various stages, such as inflammation, proliferation, restoration and reconstruction. First, the gap created in the wound is closed quickly; epithelium is created again on the surface of the wound and the new matrix quickly replaces the removed skin. However, if the stages listed are disrupted for any reason, the process of skin repair will be delayed. There are several internal stimuli factors that affect the healing and response of wounds to therapeutic agents and environmental parameters. These factors are important and can be used for the accelerating the healing of wounds. In this chapter, systems that respond to the internal stimuli factors including pH, temperature, enzymes, oxygen, etc. and affect wound healing are discussed and explained.