Table 3.

Summary of main critical properties for natural mucus wound dressing and their advantages and limitations

Crucial properties	Definition & clinical importance	Advantages & limitations
		Animal mucus	Plant mucilage	Complex-sourced natural mucus
Wet adhesion and absorption capacity	Adhere to moist wound bed, absorb exudate, maintain optimal hydration and prevent maceration	Hydrophobic molecules enable direct tissue adhesion in high-exudate environment; Sensitive to temperature/pH fluctuations	High absorption of polysaccharides facilitates wet adhesion and water retention; Excessive swelling weakens adhesion; Reduced adhesion to dry and necrotic tissues	Nanofiber-wound interlock; Crosslinking reduces capacity; Require modification for enhanced adhesion
Moisture retention and oxygen permeability	Maintain hydration for autolytic debridement and cell migration, enable oxygen exchange for aerobic healing and angiogenesis	Moderate absorption for protein and lipid; Susceptible to enzymatic degradation; Long-term retention may cause collapse; High-protein exudate clogs pores	Hydrophilic matrix sustains moisture and oxygen exchange; Over-hydration risk in high-exudate environment; Reduced water retention during degradation	Elevated concentration induces hypoxia; Unsuitable for anaerobic infection control; Synthetic additives impede gas exchange and breakdown
Mechanical resilience	Resists deformation and fracture during movement	Require prolonged in situ gelation time; Relatively low strength tears during movement; Shrink upon drying, pulling wound edges	Excellent contour adaptation; High ductility when hydrated but weak tensile strength; Brittle when dehydrated	Rigid structure limits deformation
Antimicrobial activity	Inherent capacity to kill/inhibit pathogens or incorporate antimicrobial agents	Defensin and immunoglobulins provide activity; Reduced by proteases in chronic wounds	Anthraquinones and acemannan disrupt biofilms; Limited efficacy against Gram-negative strains	Species-dependent
Immunomodulation	Modulates inflammatory cytokines to prevent chronic inflammation	Risk of allergy and immune reactions from exogenous factors	Effects may be inconsistent or paradoxical at high concentrations	Potential endotoxin contamination
Biocompatibility	Non-toxic, non-irritating, non-bioaccumulative, and non-allergenic to surrounding tissue	Zoonotic pathogen transmission risk; Potential allergens	Generally low immunogenicity; Residual pesticides and extraction solvents may cause reactions	Context-dependent
Ease of application and removal	Applicable and removable without causing pain or tissue damage	Require temperature control; Residue risk from fragments;	Brittle films may fragment during removal; potential residue	Without concentration processing; Complex applications require professional handling
Production feasibility	Sustainable source, cost-effectiveness, scalability, sterilization compatibility, regulatory pathway	High-cost live harvesting; Expensive medical-grade purification; Sterilization and storage escalate expenses	Renewable farming sources; Seasonal batch variability impedes standardization	Require equipment investment; Rigorous filtration needed for particulate residues
Other considerations	Odor control, pain management, eco-friendliness	Sulfur and amine components yield distinctive odors; Neuroinflammatory reaction risk	Cooling sensation reduces burning; Peculiar odor when improperly preserved	Degradation often requires multiple enzymes; Added complexity affects degradation