Moist Wound Healing Management Techniques
Summary
Moist wound healing is founded on the principle that a controlled hydration level within the wound bed accelerates tissue repair, reduces infection risk and improves cosmetic outcomes. Techniques employ dressings that balance fluid retention and vapour exchange to maintain an optimally damp environment without maceration. Common modalities include hydrogels, hydrocolloids, alginate dressings, foam and semi-permeable films. These materials can be engineered to deliver bioactive agents such as antimicrobials, growth factors or extracellular matrix components. Modern approaches also leverage advanced biomaterials—ranging from zwitterionic sponges to 3D-printed scaffolds—to provide structural support, modulate inflammation and promote angiogenesis. Across acute and chronic wound types, moist management has become integral to reducing healing times, minimising scar formation and containing healthcare costs globally.
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Moist Wound Healing Management Techniques publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in moist wound healing management techniques across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Hydrogel: A three-dimensional network of hydrophilic polymers that holds large volumes of water, creating a moist interface with the wound.
Exudate: Fluid comprising plasma, proteins and inflammatory cells that is produced by the wound during healing processes.
Occlusive dressing: A barrier dressing that seals the wound from air and water, enabling a humid microenvironment to support cellular migration.
Re-epithelialisation: The phase of wound healing in which keratinocytes migrate over the wound bed to restore the epithelial layer.
Moisture vapour transmission rate (WVTR): The rate at which water vapour passes through a dressing, indicating its capacity to regulate wound humidity.
References
- Lessons From Epithelialization: The Reason Behind Moist Wound Environment. The Open Dermatology Journal (2019).
- Topical Drug Delivery in the Treatment of Skin Wounds and Ocular Trauma Using the Platform Wound Device. Pharmaceutics (2023).
- Hydrogel Membranes from Chitosan-Fish Gelatin-Glycerol for Biomedical Applications: Chondroitin Sulfate Incorporation Effect in Membrane Properties. Gels (2023).
- A review of the current state of natural biomaterials in wound healing applications. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2024).
- Highly Water-Preserving Zwitterionic Betaine-Incorporated Collagen Sponges With Anti-oxidation and Anti-inflammation for Wound Regeneration. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2020).
- Controlled and Local Delivery of Antibiotics by 3D Core/Shell Printed Hydrogel Scaffolds to Treat Soft Tissue Infections. Pharmaceutics (2021).
- Orchestrating the Dermal/Epidermal Tissue Ratio during Wound Healing by Controlling the Moisture Content. Biomedicines (2022).
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