An Exploration of the Evolution of Wound Dressing: From Antiquity to the AI Age

Abstract

Wound dressings demonstrate humanity's ongoing pursuit of wound healing and treatment. Since ancient tribes employed honey, glue, and animal skins to treat wounds, dressing has evolved. Ancient Egyptians and Greco-Romans employed linen bandages and herbal remedies for healing. As medical knowledge increased throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, wound treatment became more methodical, using clean bandages and early antiseptics. Cotton and gauze were developed throughout the Industrial Revolution and following eras, and wound healing without infection became important. Synthetic materials like hydrocolloid and alginate dressings improved moisture management and the process of wound recovery in the 20th century. The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have seen bioactive and interactive dressings including silver, collagen, and growth hormones. These treatments boost natural healing. AI is shaping wound dressings' future. AI-driven technology enables predictive modeling, accurate wound assessment, and personalized dressing strategies that enhance healing. Nanotechnology and bioengineered wound dressings expand wound treatment possibilities. This abstract discusses wound dressings' history, current trends, and how AI and cutting-edge biomaterials may change wound treatment.