A Review Exploring the Wound-Healing Activity of Self-Healing Hydrogels: Fabrication, Characterization, Mechanism, and Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The natural physiological response to skin injury is wound healing. However, to restore skin continuity, wound healing is a complicated process that involves the collaboration of a variety of cell types and other mediators. This process ultimately results in tissue regeneration and the restoration of skin barrier function. Hydrogels are appealing dosage forms for biomedical regenerative medicine since they are composed of 3D networks with high water content and flexible rheological features. Hydrogels that can self-heal are particularly interesting for wound treatment because they can autonomously restore their original functionalities and repair structural damage. Recently, the use of self-healing hydrogels as biomedical materials has attracted increased interest. In this review, the self-healing systems used in tissue regeneration, especially wound healing, will be explored. A focus on the fabrication methods, characterization tests, and mechanism of self-healing will be introduced, along with the biomedical applications of self-healing hydrogels loaded with conventional and therapeutic biomaterials. In addition, the differences between hydrogels and self-healing hydrogels will be discussed. Graphical Abstract