# Wound Dressing Materials: Bridging Material Science and Clinical Practice
## 2 Dressing's Properties
### Classification
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c} \hline
**Criteria** & **Basis** & **References** \\ \hline Absorption & Managing wound exudate levels thus preventing tissue maceration. & \\ \hline Adhesiveness & Strong adhesion to healthy skin without adhering to the wound. Allow easy removal. & \\ \hline Availability & Easily accessible to all patients and healthcare facilities. & \\ \hline Biocompatibility & Reducing the likelihood of immune responses or side effects. & \\ \hline Cost-effectiveness & Providing an affordable wound dressing option. & \\ \hline Flexibility and elasticity & Conforming to body movements. & \\ \hline Mechanical robustness & Being firm enough to stay securely attached to the wound. & \\ \hline Moisture &
\begin{tabular}{c} Maintaining a balanced moist environment is crucial for encouraging cell migration \\ and proliferation. Providing moisture to dry wounds while absorbing excess moisture \\ and exudates from wet wounds. \\ \end{tabular} & [20; 21; 22; 23] \\ \hline Permeability & Enhancing gaseous exchange (water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide) at the wound & \\ \multicolumn{2}{c}{site enhances cellular activity and speeds up healing.} & \\ \hline Protection & Avoid microbial infections that disrupt the healing process and extend recovery time. & \\ \hline Safety & Guaranteeing that no toxic substances are present that could cause harm or lead to & \\ \multicolumn{2}{c}{serious consequences; ensuring that degradation byproducts are safe and follow the} & \\ \multicolumn{2}{c}{body’s normal metabolic processes.} & \\ \hline Transparency & Allowing clinicians to observe the wound and track the progress of healing. & \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Important criteria of an ideal wound dressing. infections. Skin substitutes, which contain living cells or biomaterials, can even aid in replacing damaged tissue, offering a more regenerative approach to wound healing. Bioactive dressings are especially useful for chronic or complex wounds where traditional dressing methods may fall short. Their ability to interact with biological processes makes them a valuable tool in modern wound care [17; 24]. Bioactive dressings represent a significant step forward in developing effective systems to treat chronic wounds. One key benefit of bioactive wound dressing materials is their ability to create a chemical environment closely aligned with the wound's physiological conditions, promoting faster healing. Moreover, these materials require less frequent dressing changes, therefore compared to traditional wound dressings, they deliver better clinical outcomes. Bioactive dressings are made from various biopolymers, including collagen, hyaluronic acid (HA), chitosan (CS), alginate, and elastn. Recently, biopolymers infused with active agents, such as antimicrobials and antibiotics, have been incorporated into wound dressings to combat contamination and infection. A wide variety of antibiotics, including gentamicin in collagen foams [25] and minocycline in chitosan-based dressings [26], have been incorporated into wound dressing materials for controlled release. Other components are also integrated into modern wound dressings to enhance the inflammation phase of healing. These components play a crucial role in directly influencing the proliferation stage and stimulating fibroblast activity [27]. Growth factors play a crucial role in the wound-healing process by stimulating cellular activities essential for tissue repair. They are proteins that regulate cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, differentiation, and survival. In the initial stages of healing, growth factors like platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are released by platelets and other cells to recruit and activate fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and other critical cell types. These factors promote the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), enhance collagen production, and aid in tissue regeneration, which are vital for restoring the integrity of the wounded area.