Mineral-Herbal Functionalized Collagen Composites for Scar-Reduced Superficial Wound Healing: A Comparative Review of Polymer Systems and Bioactive Additives (Review Article)

Author(s): Geetha Balasubramani*, K. Muthukumaran, Deekshashree I. P, Nithya Neha. G and Priyadharshini. V

Abstract: Superficial wound healing is a tightly regulated physiological process involving coordinated cellular proliferation, extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, and controlled inflammation to achieve rapid tissue closure with minimal scar formation. Conventional dressings such as gauze and synthetic films primarily function as passive barriers and lack the ability to actively promote regeneration, prevent infection, or modulate fibrosis. Growing interest in bioactive wound dressings has therefore shifted toward natural biopolymer-based systems integrated with functional additives. While single-polymer dressings offer biocompatibility, they often exhibit limited mechanical strength, poor stability, and suboptimal biological performance. In contrast, composite polymer systems such as collagen, gelatin, or chitosan-based blends provide enhanced structural integrity, controlled degradation, and improved cellular interactions by more closely mimicking the native extracellular matrix. The incorporation of bioactive fillers further improves therapeutic efficacy: mineral-based fillers like β-tricalcium phosphate enhance mechanical reinforcement and calcium-mediated tissue regeneration; metallic agents such as silver nanoparticles provide strong antimicrobial effects but may pose cytotoxicity concerns; and herbal bioactives, particularly Centella asiatica, offer multifunctional wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and scar-modulating properties with superior biocompatibility. Overall, composite, herbal-loaded wound patches represent a promising multifunctional strategy for advanced superficial wound management, although further optimization and clinical validation remain essential. This review systematically discusses and compares mineral, metallic, and herbal fillers in single and composite polymer systems to highlight their respective advantages, limitations, and future potential in advanced wound care applications

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