title: Chitosan preparations for wounds and burns: antimicrobial and wound-healing effects.
abstract: Since its discovery approximately 200 years ago, chitosan, as a cationic natural polymer, has been widely used as a topical dressing in wound management owing to its hemostatic, stimulation of healing, antimicrobial, nontoxic, biocompatible and biodegradable properties. This article covers the antimicrobial and wound-healing effects of chitosan, as well as its derivatives and complexes, and its use as a vehicle to deliver biopharmaceuticals, antimicrobials and growth factors into tissue. Studies covering applications of chitosan in wounds and burns can be classified into in vitro, animal and clinical studies. Chitosan preparations are classified into native chitosan, chitosan formulations, complexes and derivatives with other substances. Chitosan can be used to prevent or treat wound and burn infections not only because of its intrinsic antimicrobial properties, but also by virtue of its ability to deliver extrinsic antimicrobial agents to wounds and burns. It can also be used as a slow-release drug-delivery vehicle for growth factors to improve wound healing. The large number of publications in this area suggests that chitosan will continue to be an important agent in the management of wounds and burns.
authors.affiliation: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Tianhong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Ying-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hamblin
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D048271:Chitosan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004285:Dogs; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D048271:Chitosan