Natural polysaccharides for wound healing

Wound healing restores the integrity of damaged tissues by a multistep process which involves coagulation, inflammation, and matrix synthesis. The dressing of the wound is critical in the wound healing treatment because it works as a protective barrier sandwiched between the site of injury and the environment outside the vicinity of the wound. With the advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, wound management has transformed from being simple coverings to advanced technological matrices which not only prevents infections but also enhances the recovery process of the dermal and epidermal tissues. Studies have indicated that fibroblasts produce several extracellular matrix molecules, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) being one of them. GAG is responsible for cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and regulates signaling factors associated with wound healing. Recent studies indicate that natural polysaccharides assist the functionalization of GAG activity furthering the process of wound healing. This chapter aims at studying the role of natural polysaccharides in detail and enlists the different types of polysaccharides adopted for the wound healing process.