Ulvan as an underrated material for wound dressings: a review

The sulfated polysaccharide ulvan has gained significant attention in recent years due to its promising health benefits, including immunomodulatory, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-lipidemic, and anticancer properties. Additionally, ulvan is biocompatible and easily modified chemically. However, despite these advantages, it remains underutilized compared to other seaweed-derived polymers. One key challenge is its structural variability across species, which, along with the lack of consistent and scalable sources, limits its broader application. Nevertheless, ulvan's chemical structure closely resembles that of mammalian connective glycosaminoglycans, making it a promising candidate for wound healing applications. This review summarizes the efforts made so far in utilizing ulvan for wound dressing, highlighting its positive results. It also aims to inspire and guide future developments in the use of ulvan as a wound dressing material.