Phytochemical Loaded Wound Dressings and Transdermal Patches: Recent Developments and Therapeutic Potential

AbstractImpaired and chronic wounds place a heavy clinical and economic burden on healthcare systems,and conventional dressings seldom address the multiple biological barriers that impede repair.Plant-derived bioactive molecules (phytochemicals), such as curcumin, flavonoids, terpenoids,alkaloids, and polyphenols, act on inflammation, oxidative stress, microbial colonization,angiogenesis, and matrix remodeling simultaneously, making them attractive candidates for localtherapy. Their use has been limited by poor aqueous solubility, chemical instability, and shortresidence times at the wound site. Delivery platforms such as films, hydrogels, electro spunnanofibers, nanoparticle-based dressings, composite dressings, matrix and reservoir patches,nanocarrier-integrated patches, and microneedle arrays can overcome many of these limitations.This review summarizes the biology of wound repair, the phytochemicals most frequentlystudied, the dressing and patch platforms designed to deliver them, the underlying.