Sulphonated biomaterials as glycosaminoglycan mimics in wound healing

This chapter considers the available evidence and underlying physicochemical principles that support the proposition that a biomimetic wound dressing based on glycosaminoglycan models offers a potential means of influencing wound bioactivity. Available evidence showing advantages in wound healing for experimental proteoglycanbased dressing materials is described, together with an overview of the bioactive role of sulphated macromolecules. This leads to an assessment of the analogies between the sulphonate group and the sulphate group and an explanation of their unique water binding behaviour. The available information suggests the desirability of an integrated physicochemical, biochemical and biological approach to the design and synthesis of new wound healing biomaterials.