Hydrogels

摘要

Hydrogels absorb water, expand without dissolving and are available in amorphous (shapeless) sheet forms or as gels impregnated into a dressing material. They possess a high water content (up to 96%) and provide the classic moist environment advocated by Winter. The amorphous presentations resemble wallpaper paste due to their semi-opaque nature and consistency. Hydrogels are unlikely to adhere to the wound bed because of their high water content. Depending on the presentation, they may require a secondary dressing.Hydrogels occur in nature and are found in the cornea and cartilage. Synthetic hydrogels have excellent biocompatibility and occur in applications such as adhesives, contact lenses and ECG electrode pads (their high water content facilitates electrical conduction). Hydrogels have proved to be a popular wound dressing as they are generally easy to use, comfortable and cost-effective. There is no robust clinical evidence to support the use of one hydrogel dressing over another.