Wound Healing Activity of Nanoclay/Spring Water Hydrogels

Advancements of Biomacromolecular Hydrogel Applications in Food Nutrition and Health

Hydrogels exhibit remarkable degradability, biocompatibility and functionality, which position them as highly promising materials for applications within the food and pharmaceutical industries. Although many relevant studies on hydrogels have been reported in the chemical industry, materials, and other fields, there have been few reviews on their potential applications in food nutrition and human health. This study aims to address this gap by reviewing the functional properties of hydrogels and assessing their value in terms of food nutrition and human health. The use of hydrogels in preserving bioactive ingredients, food packaging and food distribution is delved into specifically in this review. Hydrogels can serve as cutting-edge materials for food packaging and delivery, ensuring the preservation of nutritional activity within food products, facilitating targeted delivery of bioactive compounds and regulating the digestion and absorption processes in the human body, thereby promoting human health. Moreover, hydrogels find applications in in vitro cell and tissue culture, human tissue repair, as well as chronic disease prevention and treatment. These broad applications have attracted great attention in the fields of human food nutrition and health. Ultimately, this paper serves as a valuable reference for further utilization and exploration of hydrogels in these respective fields.

Research and applications of nanoclays: A review

Nanoclays, a specific type of nanomaterial, have emerged as versatile and dynamic materials, with tremendous potential for advanced functional applications. Despite publishing a large number of research articles, there are relatively few review articles on this topic. This comprehensive review delves into the most widely used nanoclays and explores the diverse range of applications in different fields, such as aerospace, automobile, construction, biomedical, food packaging, and polymer composites. With their ability to enhance the performance of materials and products, nanoclays have become a highly desired material in various industries. The challenges associated with nanoclays like complex properties, difficulty in developing new synthesis methods, and challenges in investigating long‐term durability and stability have been summarized. The future research directions with the exciting possibilities to develop future innovative materials have been highlighted at the end of the article.

Highlights

Natural Nano-Minerals (NNMs): Conception, Classification and Their Biomedical Composites

Natural nano-minerals (NNMs) are minerals that are derived from nature with a size of less than 100 nm in at least one dimension in size. NNMs have a number of excellent properties due to their unique nanostructure and have been applied in various fields in recent years. They are rising stars in various disciplines, such as materials, biomedicine, and chemistry, taking advantage of their huge surface area, multiple active sites, excellent adsorption capacity, large quantity, low cost, and nontoxicity, etc. To provide a more comprehensive overview of NNMs and the biomedical applications of NNMs-based nanocomposites, this review classifies NNMs into three types by dimension, lists the structure and properties of typical NNMs, and illustrates their biomedical applications. Furthermore, a novel concept of natural nanomineral medical materials (NNMMs) is proposed, focusing on the medical value of NNMs. In addition, this review attempts to address the current challenges and delineate future directions for the advancement of NNMs. With the deepening of biomedical applications, it is believed that NNMMMs will inevitably play an important role in the field of human health and contribute to its promotion.

Recent advances in the application of clay-containing hydrogels for hemostasis and wound healing

INTRODUCTION

Immediate control of bleeding and anti-infection play important roles in wound management. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death may occur if persistent bleeding, hemodynamic instability, and hypoxemia are not addressed. The combination of clay and hydrogel provides a new outlet for wound hemostasis. In this review, the current research progress of hydrogel/clay composite hemostatic agents was reviewed.

AREAS COVERED

This paper summarizes the characteristics of several kinds of clay including kaolinite, montmorillonite, laponite, sepiolite, and palygorskite. The advantages and disadvantages of its application in hemostasis were also summarized. Future directions for the application of hydrogel/clay composite hemostatic agents are presented.

EXPERT OPINION

Clay can activate the endogenous hemostatic pathway by increasing blood cell concentration and promoting plasma absorption to accelerate the hemostasis. Clay is antimicrobial due to the slow release of metal ions and has a rich surface charge with a high affinity for proteins and cells to promote tissue repair. Hydrogels have some properties such as good biocompatibility, strong adhesion, high stretchability, and good self-healing. Despite promising advances, hydrogel/clay composite hemostasis remains a limitation. Therefore, more evidence is needed to further elucidate the risk factors and therapeutic effects of hydrogel/clay in hemostasis and wound healing.

Modulation of immune cum inflammatory pathway by earthworm granulation tissue extract in wound healing of diabetic rabbit model

Regeneration is a rare occurrence in the animal kingdom, but the earthworm stands out as a remarkable example of this phenomenon. Recent research has highlighted the promising wound healing properties of extracts derived from earthworms. Therefore, we propose that earthworm granulation tissue extract (EGTE) may facilitate wound healing by regulating immune responses in a rabbit diabetic wound model. Electron microscopy reveals that 70 % EGTE possesses noteworthy porosity with spherical to irregularly oval configuration. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) Characterization of EGTE revealed higher levels of ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3-ol, (3. beta.,22E). In-Vitro studies revealed significant anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties in dose dependent manner. Likewise, cytotoxicity assessments reveal that 70 % EGTE exhibits minimal harm to cells while displaying substantial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. For In-Vivo studies excision wounds were created on the dorsal regions of the experimental animals and were divided as Group I (50 % EGTE), Group II (70 % EGTE), Group III (vehicle) and Group IV (distilled water). Over a 21-day observation period 70 % EGTE facilitated the early healing of wounds in the experimental animals, evident through prompt wound closure, granulation tissue formation, increased DNA content, enhanced tensile strength of the wound area and enhanced the expression/synthesis of wound healing markers/proteins. From these results it can be postulated that EGTE accelerates wound healing by immune modulation, dampening of inflammatory pathway and enhanced expression of growth markers. Henceforth making it promising candidate for therapeutic use in diabetic wound healing.

Mycelium-based biomaterials as smart devices for skin wound healing

Introduction: Recently, mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus, edible fungi, have been characterized in vitro as self-growing biomaterials for tissue engineering since they are constituted of interconnected fibrous networks resembling the dermal collagen structure. Aim: This work aims to investigate the biopharmaceutical properties of G. lucidum and P. ostreatus mycelia to prove their safety and effectiveness in tissue engineering as dermal substitutes. Methods: The mycelial materials were characterized using a multidisciplinary approach, including physicochemical properties (morphology, thermal behavior, surface charge, and isoelectric point). Moreover, preclinical properties such as gene expression and in vitro wound healing assay have been evaluated using fibroblasts. Finally, these naturally-grown substrates were applied in vivo using a murine burn/excisional wound model. Conclusions: Both G. lucidum and P. ostreatus mycelia are biocompatible and able to safely and effectively enhance tissue repair in vivo in our preclinical model.

Self-Therapeutic Nanomaterials: Applications in Biology and Medicine

Over past decades, nanotechnology has contributed to the biomedical field in areas including detection, diagnosis, and drug delivery via opto-electronic properties or enhancement of biological effects. Though generally considered inert delivery vehicles, a plethora of past and present evidence demonstrates that nanomaterials also exude unique intrinsic biological activity based on composition, shape, and surface functionalization. These intrinsic biological activities, termed self-therapeutic properties, take several forms, including mediation of cell-cell interactions, modulation of interactions between biomolecules, catalytic amplification of biochemical reactions, and alteration of biological signal transduction events. Moreover, study of biomolecule-nanomaterial interactions offers a promising avenue for uncovering the molecular mechanisms of biology and the evolution of disease. In this review, we observe the historical development, synthesis, and characterization of self-therapeutic nanomaterials. Next, we discuss nanomaterial interactions with biological systems, starting with administration and concluding with elimination. Finally, we apply this materials perspective to advances in intrinsic nanotherapies across the biomedical field, from cancer therapy to treatment of microbial infections and tissue regeneration. We conclude with a description of self-therapeutic nanomaterials in clinical trials and share our perspective on the direction of the field in upcoming years.

Engineered Nanoparticles, Natural Nanoclay and Biochar, as Carriers of Plant-Growth Promoting Bacteria

The potential of biochar and nanoparticles to serve as effective delivery agents for beneficial bacteria to crops was investigated. Application of nanoparticles and biochar as carriers for beneficial bacteria improved not only the amount of nitrogen-fixing and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria in soil, but also improved chlorophyll content (1.2-1.3 times), cell viability (1.1-1.5 times), and antioxidative properties (1.1-1.4 times) compared to control plants. Treatments also improved content of phosphorus (P) (1.1-1.6 times) and nitrogen (N) (1.1-1.4 times higher) in both tomato and watermelon plants. However, the effect of biochars and nanoparticles were species-specific. For example, chitosan-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles with adsorbed bacteria increased the phosphorus content in tomato by 1.2 times compared to a 1.1-fold increase when nanoclay with adsorbed bacteria was applied. In watermelon, the situation was reversed: 1.1-fold increase in the case of chitosan-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles and 1.2 times in case of nanoclay with adsorbed bacteria. Our findings demonstrate that use of nanoparticles and biochar as carriers for beneficial bacteria significantly improved plant growth and health. These findings are useful for design and synthesis of novel and sustainable biofertilizer formulations.

Polysaccharide-Based Adhesive Antibacterial and Self-Healing Hydrogel for Sealing Hemostasis

Adhesive hydrogels have been considered as one of the most ideal materials for wound dressing. However, most existing adhesive hydrogels still have disadvantages such as low mechanical properties, poor biological activity (antibacterial and hemostatic ability), and low biocompatibility, which largely limit their application. Thus, it is highly desired to prepare a hydrogel-based wound dressing with good self-healing, ideal adhesive properties, rapid hemostasis, and excellent wound infection prevention activity. In this study, a simple method was presented to prepare a PAM-Lignin-CS-Laponite-SA hydrogel for wound dressing. The obtained hydrogel displayed excellent self-healing ability and repeatable adhesive performance, benefiting from the introduction of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions inside the hydrogel network. In addition, the PAM-Lignin-CS-Laponite-SA hydrogel also exhibited low cell cytotoxicity, good antibacterial activity, and outstanding hemostatic properties. In conclusion, the PAM-Lignin-CS-Laponite-SA hydrogel demonstrated good tissue adhesion, excellent self-healing ability, effective bleeding control, and good antibacterial activity to prevent wound infection, which provides a new idea for developing a multifunctional hydrogel-based tissue adhesive hemostatic dressing.

Property of mud and its application in cosmetic and medical fields: a review

Mud is a semi-colloidal substance formed by the mixture of inorganic, organic and water under the influence of various physical and chemical factors through geological and biological processes. The chemical composition of mud is complex, rich in Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and other mineral elements, also contains organic matter such as humic acid, fulvic acid and acetic acid. In cosmetic field, mud can improve the activity of glutathione enzyme and superoxide dismutase in skin, which helps the skin anti-aging. Besides, it also can improve the skin microbial community, due to its distinctively physical properties, mineral ions, microorganisms, etc. In medical field, mud can treat osteoarthritis, especially knee osteoarthritis which has been studied extensively, and it can also increase the chemotaxis of macrophages. On the one hand, the use of clay (a kind of refined mud) can protect the gastrointestinal tract and treat some gastrointestinal diseases. On the other hand, clay is often used as carriers or composites in drug delivery, especially in skin drug delivery, showing very positive results. The purpose of this review is to present an overview of current knowledge about the application of mud in cosmetic and medical fields and to provide ideas for further research in mud.

Formulation and rheological evaluation of liposomes-loaded carbopol hydrogels based on thermal waters

The aims of this study were to develop topical liposomal hydrogels based on thermal waters (TWs) acquired in the region of Biskra (Northeast Algeria) and also to investigate their rheological properties. Liposomes containing two highly mineralized thermal waters, Baraka (BTW) and Salhine (STW), were prepared by probe sonication using phosphatidylcholine (PC) and cholesterol (Chol), plain or mixed with phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Based on their lipid composition, obtained liposomes presented vesicle sizes of 60 nm, a low polydispersity index, and various negative zeta potentials. It was noted that with increasing counterions charge in TWs the zeta potential of liposomes decreased toward neutral values.Carbopol (1%, w/w) hydrogels prepared with BTW, STW, and also demineralized water (placebo hydrogel) showed a non-Newtonian behavior, pseudoplastic fluid adjusted to Carreau model. The composition of thermal waters influenced highly the rheological properties of Carbopol hydrogels. Liposomal hydrogels were prepared by dispersing liposomes in hydrogels formulated with the same encapsulated thermal water. Regardless of composition or lipid concentration of added liposomes, the viscosity and viscoelastic parameters of Carbopol hydrogels changed negligibly. Indeed, liposome composition and lipid concentration seemed to have no effect on the rheological properties of Carbopol hydrogel in the presence of an important charge of cations. Hence, hydrogels and liposomal hydrogels based on thermal waters had suitable rheological properties for topical application and delivery of minerals in the skin.

Naringin-loaded Arabic gum/pectin hydrogel as a potential wound healing material

Wound healing is a complicated cellular process with overlapping phases. Naringin (NAR); a flavanone glycoside, possesses numerous pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. In the current study, Arabic gum (AG)/pectin hydrogel was utilized to encapsulate NAR. Drug-loaded AG/pectin hydrogel exhibited excellent EE% of about 99.88 ± 0.096 and high DL% of about 16.64 ± 0.013. The formulated drug-loaded hydrogel was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Zetasizer analyzer, besides determination of equilibrium degree of swelling (EDS%). Afterwards, wound healing potential of NAR-loaded AG/pectin hydrogel was evaluated in an in vivo animal model. Results manifested that NAR-loaded AG/pectin hydrogel was able to accelerate wound healing in terms of enhanced angiogenesis, re-epithelialization and collagen deposition. Furthermore, it significantly (P < 0.001) down-regulated the mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α) and apoptosis (BAX). In addition, NAR-loaded AG/pectin hydrogel was found to possess potent antioxidant activity as it enhanced the levels of SOD and GSH, besides decreasing the levels of MPO, MDA and nitrite. These data suggest that NAR-loaded AG/pectin hydrogel could be utilized in wound healing applications.

Clay-Based Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications: A Review

In recent decades, new and improved materials have been developed with a significant interest in three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds that can cope with the diverse needs of the expanding biomedical field and promote the required biological response in multiple applications. Due to their biocompatibility, ability to encapsulate and deliver drugs, and capacity to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM), typical hydrogels have been extensively investigated in the biomedical and biotechnological fields. The major limitations of hydrogels include poor mechanical integrity and limited cell interaction, restricting their broad applicability. To overcome these limitations, an emerging approach, aimed at the generation of hybrid materials with synergistic effects, is focused on incorporating nanoparticles (NPs) within polymeric gels to achieve nanocomposites with tailored functionality and improved properties. This review focuses on the unique contributions of clay nanoparticles, regarding the recent developments of clay-based nanocomposite hydrogels, with an emphasis on biomedical applications.

Fibrous Clays in Dermopharmaceutical and Cosmetic Applications: Traditional and Emerging Perspectives

Functionalization of natural clay minerals for high value-added pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications receives significant research attention worldwide attributable to a rising demand and ongoing search for green, efficient, economically sustainable and ecofriendly geomaterials. Fibrous clays, i.e. palygorskite and sepiolite, are naturally-occurring hydrated magnesium aluminum silicate clay minerals with 2:1 layer-chain microstructure and one-dimensional nanofibrous morphology. Due to their unique structural, textural and compatibility features, over the past decade, fibrous clays and their organic modified derivatives are increasingly used in the dermopharmaceutical and cosmetic fields as excipients, active agents or nanocarriers to develop novel skin delivery systems or to modify drug release profile for enhanced health effects. This comprehensive review presents the up-to-date information on fibrous clays used in topically-applied products for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes with the focus on their performance-related structural characteristics and the underlying mechanisms. The recent advancement of fibrous clay-based skin delivery systems was summarized in wide range of applications including pelotherapy, wound healing, antimicrobial action, coloration and UV protection. An overview of the commonly used topically-applied dosage forms (powders, hydrogels, films, peloids and Pickering emulsion) as well as the toxicological aspects was also included, which might provide guidance to the design and development of fibrous clay-based skin delivery systems.

Maltodextrin-amino acids electrospun scaffolds cross-linked with Maillard-type reaction for skin tissue engineering

The goal of this work is the design and the development of scaffolds based on maltodextrin (MD) to recover chronic lesions. MD was mixed with arginine/lysine/polylysine and the electrospinning was successfully used to prepare scaffolds with uniform and continuous nanofibers having regular shape and smooth surface. A thermal treatment was applied to obtain insoluble scaffolds in aqueous environment, taking the advantage of amino acids-polysaccharide conjugates formed via Maillard-type reaction. The morphological analysis showed that the scaffolds had nanofibrous structures, and that the cross-linking by heating did not significantly change the nanofibers' dimensions and did not alter the system stability. Moreover, the heating process caused a reduction of free amino group and proportionally increased scaffold cross-linking degree. The scaffolds were elastic and resistant to break, and possessed negative zeta potential in physiological fluids. These were characterized by direct antioxidant properties and Fe²⁺ chelation capability (indirect antioxidant properties). Moreover, the scaffolds were cytocompatible towards fibroblasts and monocytes-derived macrophages, and did not show any significant pro-inflammatory activity. Finally, those proved to accelerate the recovery of the burn/excisional wounds. Considering all the features, MD-poly/amino acids scaffolds could be considered as promising medical devices for the treatment of chronic wounds.

Nanocellulose/palygorskite biocomposite membranes for controlled release of metronidazole

The incorporation of drugs in nanocomposites can be considered a potential strategy for controlled drug release. In this study, a nanocomposite based on bacterial cellulose and the palygorskite clay (BC/PLG) was produced and loaded with metronidazole (MTZ). The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) Spectroscopy, thermal analysis (TG/DTG) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The barrier properties were determined to water vapor permeability (WVP). Adsorption tests with PLG were performed using MTZ and drug release profile of the membranes was investigated. The results indicated that PLG increased the crystallinity of the nanocomposites, and greater thermal stability when PLG concentration was 15.0% (BC/PLG15) was observed. WVP of the samples also varied, according to the clay content. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved from 400 mg/L of the PLG and a plateau in the MTZ release rates from BC/PLG was observed after 30 min. Therefore, the results of this study show the potential of these nanocomposite membranes as a platform for controlled drug release.

Correlation between Elemental Composition/Mobility and Skin Cell Proliferation of Fibrous Nanoclay/Spring Water Hydrogels

Inorganic hydrogels formulated with spring waters and clay minerals are used to treat musculoskeletal disorders and skin affections. Their underlying mechanism of action for skin disorders is not clear, although it is usually ascribed to the chemical composition of the formulation. The aim of this study was to assess the composition and in vitro release of elements with potential wound healing effects from hydrogels prepared with two nanoclays and natural spring water. In vitro Franz cell studies were used and the element concentration was measured by inductively coupled plasma techniques. Biocompatibility studies were used to evaluate the potential toxicity of the formulation against fibroblasts. The studied hydrogels released elements with known therapeutic interest in wound healing. The released ratios of some elements, such as Mg:Ca or Zn:Ca, played a significant role in the final therapeutic activity of the formulation. In particular, the proliferative activity of fibroblasts was ascribed to the release of Mn and the Zn:Ca ratio. Moreover, the importance of formulative studies is highlighted, since it is the optimal combination of the correct ingredients that makes a formulation effective.

Nanotechnology-Based Medical Devices for the Treatment of Chronic Skin Lesions: From Research to the Clinic

Chronic wounds, such as pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers and arterial insufficiency ulcers, are lesions that fail to proceed through the normal healing process within a period of 12 weeks. The treatment of skin chronic wounds still represents a great challenge. Wound medical devices (MDs) range from conventional and advanced dressings, up to skin grafts, but none of these are generally recognized as a gold standard. Based on recent developments, this paper reviews nanotechnology-based medical devices intended as skin substitutes. In particular, nanofibrous scaffolds are promising platforms for wound healing, especially due to their similarity to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and their capability to promote cell adhesion and proliferation, and to restore skin integrity, when grafted into the wound site. Nanotechnology-based scaffolds are emphasized here. The discussion will be focused on the definition of critical quality attributes (chemical and physical characterization, stability, particle size, surface properties, release of nanoparticles from MDs, sterility and apyrogenicity), the preclinical evaluation (biocompatibility testing, alternative in vitro tests for irritation and sensitization, wound healing test and animal wound models), the clinical evaluation and the CE (European Conformity) marking of nanotechnology-based MDs.

Safety of Nanoclay/Spring Water Hydrogels: Assessment and Mobility of Hazardous Elements

The presence of impurities in medicinal products have to be controlled within safety limits from a pharmaceutical quality perspective. This matter is of special significance for those countries and regions where the directives, guidelines, or legislations, which prescribe the rules for the application of some products is quite selective or incomplete. Clay-based hydrogels are quite an example of this matter since they are topically administered, but, in some regions, they are not subjected to well-defined legal regulations. Since hydrogels establish an intimate contact with the skin, hazardous elements present in the ingredients could potentially be bioavailable and compromise their safety. The elemental composition and mobility of elements present in two hydrogels have been assessed. Sepiolite, palygorskite, and natural spring water were used as ingredients. The release of a particular element mainly depends on its position in the structure of the hydrogels, not only on its concentration in each ingredient. As a general trend, elements' mobility reduced with time. Among the most dangerous elements, whose presence in cosmetics is strictly forbidden by European legal regulations, As and Cd were mobile, although in very low amounts (0.1 and 0.2 μg/100 g of hydrogel, respectively). That is, assuming 100% bioavailability, the studied hydrogels would be completely safe at normal doses. Although there is no sufficient evidence to confirm that their presence is detrimental to hydrogels safety, legally speaking, their mobility could hinder the authorization of these hydrogels as medicines or cosmetics. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that hydrogels prepared with sepiolite, palygorskite, and Alicún spring water could be topically applied without major intoxication risks.

Mud therapy and rehabilitation - scientific relevance in the last six years (2015 – 2020) Systematic literature review and meta-analysis based on the PRISMA paradigm

Abstract Background. Balneotherapy is a stimulation - adaptation treatment method applied in the forms of bathing, drinking, and inhalation cures performed with natural therapeutic factors, a method which is acting in three main ways: thermally, mechanically, and chemically. Mud or peloids are natural therapeutic factors formed by natural processes under the influence of biological and geological phenomena, which in a finely dissolved state and mixed with water (mud) are used in medical practice in the form of baths or local procedures. Objective. This systematic review aims to rigorously select related articles and identify within their content, the main possible uses of therapeutic mud and physiological mechanisms, to see the main region of scientific interest for pelotherapy, and to discuss the value of mud therapy in rehabilitation medicine. Methods. The working method is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched for open-access articles published in English, between January 2015 and December 2020, from the following databases: Cochrane, Elsevier, NCBI/PubMed, NCBI/PMC, PEDro, and ISI Web of Knowledge/Science (the latter was also used to identify ISI indexed articles). The contextually searched syntax used was ”Pelotherapy/Peloidotherapy/Mud-therapy/ /Fango-therapy AND Rehabilitation”. The selected articles were analyzed in detail regarding pathologies addressed by mud therapy and country scientific relevance for this therapeutic method. The meta-analysis proceeded was designated to estimate the prevalence of various pathologies in the use of mud therapy. Results. Our search identified, first, 394 articles. Based on the successive filtering stages and, respectively, on the classification criteria of the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), we finally identified/retained and analyzed 68 articles. Although, in principle, a rigorous method – and we have followed the PRISMA type paradigm – there still might be some missing works of our related article selection. On the other hand, to augment/ consolidate our documentation base, we have used also 40 papers freely found in the literature, and even – aiming, too, at an as exhaustive knowledge underpinning as possible – derogatively, we have also considered some articles which, probably being very new, couldn't yet have reached the PEDro threshold score we have settled. Conclusions. This paper overviews the current state-of-the-art knowledge in the approach of peloidotherapy in rehabilitation, with a focal point on the therapeutic properties of peloids. Keywords: mud-therapy, pelotherapy, peloidotherapy, fango therapy, rehabilitation, balneotherapy, natural therapeutic factors,