Page 40 - Drug Discovery and Development: Prospects and Challenges

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2017). Autografts, allografts, and cultivated epithelial autografts, as well
as wound dressings made of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers,
are now used in wound healing.
Biocompatible polymeric hydrogels are considered the most
promising wound dressing materials, as they meet the effective wound
dressing requirements by providing an easy-to-handle dressing with no
irritation and no adherence properties, thereby maintaining or improving
the patients’ comfort (Boateng et al., 2008; Kokabi et al., 2007). A
medicated hydrogel dressing, which reduces the time for healing and
increases patient compliance, has now become very practical. The use
of hydrogel occlusive dressings to keep a moist wound environment has
proven to be an effective aid in wound healing. Asiaticoside hydrogel
is designed to hold moisture at the skin surface, offering a soothing and
gentle solution for dry, sloughy, necrotic wounds (eschar) as well as to
accelerate the wound healing process due to the presence of asiaticoside.
Currently, the available asiaticoside-based product is the Madecassol ,
®
which is applied as a wound healing cream.

Hydrogel

Hydrogels are hydrophilic, three-dimensional, water-insoluble polymeric
networks with high-sensitive to physiological environments and adequate
flexibility (Hamidi et al., 2008; Kamoun et al., 2017; Singh & Vashishtha,
2008). They can absorb a large amount of water, which makes them a
suitable material as a wound dressing for biomedical applications. Among
the various polymers that can be formed into hydrogel are Polyvinyl
Alcohol (PVA) and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG). PVA hydrogels are one
of the most well-known polymer gels with excellent biocompatibility
and attractive physical features, such as rubbery or elastic in nature, non-
toxicity, and non-carcinogenic properties (Gwon et al., 2010).
On the other hand, PEG is a water-soluble polymer that has sparked
a lot of interest for its potential applications in the biomedical field,
including wound healing, tissue scaffolding, and drug delivery. Due to
its non-toxic properties, PEG does not interfere with the immune system
and can be eliminated from the body quickly. PEG is also recognised for
its great chain flexibility and temperature resistance, which allows for the