Starch-based biomaterials for wound-dressing applications

Starch has been used as a biomaterial for several applications including tissue engineering scaffolds, substrates for cell seeding, drug delivery systems, bone replacement implants, wound dressings, among others. In this paper, we review the use of starch-based materials for the development of wound dressings. First, we shall cover the basic characteristics of wounds, including a brief discussion of the wound healing process and the different types of dressings available for the treatment of wounds. Then, the general properties of starch as a biomaterial are described with special emphasis on the properties of several modified starches. The different processing routes for the production of starch-based wound dressings are revised in some detail. Starch-based wound dressings under investigation and commercially available products are also reviewed in order to assess the performance of starch as a biomaterial in the healing processes.