Eggshell membrane-based biomaterials for tissue regeneration: a systematic review of preclinical evidence

Limitations of conventional wound dressings have spurred the exploration of regenerative biomaterials capable of actively promoting tissue repair. Eggshell membrane (ESM) is emerging as a low-cost, biocompatible scaffold with significant potential in advanced wound care applications.

To evaluate the therapeutic potential of ESM-based wound dressings in enhancing the wound-healing process.

A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Comprehensive searches were performed across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest, covering all records up to 22 June 2024. Only English-language studies investigating eggshell membrane as a wound care biomaterial were included. Study selection adhered to predefined eligibility and inclusion criteria.

From 599 identified records, 36 studies met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen studies involved in vivo experiments (eight in rats, three in rabbits, three in mice, and one in murine models), with ten also incorporating in vitro analyses. Eight studies were exclusively in vitro. Overall, 15 studies used in vivo methods and 18 utilized in vitro approaches. ESM-based wound dressings consistently demonstrated promising outcomes, accelerating wound repair and tissue regeneration, and often outperforming untreated controls or conventional gauze dressings. A meta-analysis was not feasible due to heterogeneity in study designs, experimental models, and outcome measures.

This review highlights the considerable potential of eggshell membrane-based dressings as regenerative biomaterials for the management of complex wounds. While ESM shows strong promise as a scaffold for wound healing, further standardized and clinically focused research is necessary to establish robust evidence supporting its translational and therapeutic applications.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420260551038, identifier CRD420260551038.