Abstract
Results from studies such as these eventually led to the widespread commercial
development of polymeric dressings for wound management in the late 1970s and
that development continues today. Polymers can essentially be custom made to meet
specific performance parameters such as gas permeability, absorbency, and physical
format. Due to this possible customization of polymers, the range of materials suitable for use as wound dressings has grown exponentially beyond natural plant
fibers. Manmade polymeric products such as films, foams, hydrogels, alginates,
and hydrocolloids are now available for wound management. Even more recently,
wound dressings are incorporating biomaterials and active ingredients with unique
functions.