Biomateriais poliméricos: curativos de hidrogéis e hidrocolóides na cicatrização de lesões cutâneas de diferentes origens: um estudo de revisão

Abstract

Hydrogels and hydrocolloids represent a class widely studied within biomaterials science due to their particular properties. Both, when applied to wound healing, promote the maintenance of a moist environment and optimize the healing cascade. Hydrogels, with their three-dimensional network, allow the incorporation and release of bioactive substances into the wound due to their unique structure. Hydrocolloids, on the other hand, are made from carboxymethylcellulose, pectin, gelatin, and alginate, which form a colloidal network and mainly act as a protective barrier and absorbent dressing. Skin healing is a dynamic process that involves inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling phases to repair damaged tissue. This process can be influenced by several factors, including the choice of dressing. The studied dressings work in each phase of this process, maintaining a moist environment, accelerating reepithelialization, and serving as a barrier against infections. In general, dressings that promote moist healing are considered the gold standard in clinical practice; however, they are not recommended for all wounds and are more suitable for low-exudate wounds, such as those analyzed in this study. This study aimed to review the scientific literature on the use of hydrogels and hydrocolloids in the healing of skin wounds from different origins. A review was conducted based on 108 articles retrieved from the PubMed and Scopus databases, published in the last five years. The included articles generally address skin lesions caused in preclinical trials, burn injuries, postoperative wounds, ulcerative wounds, acne lesions, and others. The evidence indicates that hydrogels and hydrocolloids have demonstrated efficacy in the healing process, reducing healing time, controlling inflammation, and improving the quality of scars or regenerated skin. Thus, hydrogels and hydrocolloids are established as safe, effective options with high potential for clinical and therapeutic application in wound healing.