In uncontrolled
hemorrhage, the main cause of death on the battlefield and in accidents, half of the deaths are caused by severe blood loss. Polymeric
biomaterials have great potential in the control of severe
hemorrhage from
trauma, which is the second leading cause of death in the civilian community following central nervous system
injuries. The intent of this article is to provide a review on currently available
biopolymers used as
wound dressing agents and to describe their best use as it relates to the condition and type of the
wound (acute, chronic, superficial, and full thickness) and the phases of the wound healing process. These
biopolymers are beneficial in tissue engineering as scaffolds,
hydrogels, and films. Different types of
wound dressings based on
biopolymers are available in the market, with various physical, chemical, and
biological properties. The use of
biopolymers as a
hemostatic agent depends on its biocompatibility, biodegradability, nonimmunogenicity, and optimal mechanical property. This review summarizes different
biopolymers, their physiological characters, and their use as wound healing agents along with biomedical applications.