Blue healing: marine biopolymers’ dual role in diabetic wounds and palliative care

Abstract

Chronic Diabetic wounds pose significant challenges in healthcare due to prolonged healing times and increased susceptibility to infections. Traditional wound dressings often fall short in providing an optimal environment for healing. Owing to their biocompatibility and biodegradability, natural polysaccharides present promising wound management alternatives. This review highlights the potential of polysaccharides derived from diverse sources, including marine organisms, in promoting wound healing. While considerable progress has been made in understanding their haemostatic, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties, further research is needed to elucidate their precise mechanisms of action and optimise their therapeutic efficacy. Harnessing the unique characteristics of marine-based polysaccharides holds excellent promise for future advancements in wound care, particularly in the detection and treatment of diabetic wound infections.