Rational Design and Preparation of Functional Hydrogels for Skin Wound Healing

Abstract

Skin wound healing often contains a series of dynamic and complex physiological healing processes. It is a great clinical challenge to effectively treat the cutaneous wound and regenerate the damaged skin. Hydrogels have shown great promise for skin wound healing through the rational design and preparation to endow with specific functionalities. In the mini review, we firstly introduce the design and construction of various types of hydrogels based on their bonding chemistry during cross-linking. Then, we summarize the recent research progress on the functionalization of bioactive hydrogel dressings for skin wound healing, including anti-bacteria, anti-inflammatory, tissue proliferation and remodeling. In addition, we highlight the design strategies of responsive hydrogels to external physical stimuli. Ultimately, we provide perspectives on future directions and challenges of functional hydrogels for skin wound healing.

Progress in Hydrogels for Skin Wound Repair

“…The anti-inflammatory hydrogels are prepared to promote macrophage polarization, reduce pro-inflammatory chemokines, and eliminate reactive oxygen species. [138] To enhance the anti-inflammatory properties of hydrogels, the most convenient way is to introduce anti-inflammatory drugs. [139] Yin et al combined the anti-inflammatory drug rhein (4,5dihydroxyanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid) into silk fibroin to prepare a multifunctional silk fibroin/Rhein hydrogel with antiinflammatory and angiogenesis effect.…”

“…The anti‐inflammatory hydrogels are prepared to promote macrophage polarization, reduce pro‐inflammatory chemokines, and eliminate reactive oxygen species. [ 138 ]…”

Effects and Progress of Photo-Crosslinking Hydrogels in Wound Healing Improvement

“…Hydrogels are an important class of biomaterials in the field of biology and medicine. Because of their hydrophilic characteristics, easy preparation, modification, and functionalization, hydrogels have been widely used as dressings in wound healing [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Hydrogels, composed of 3D network structures that mimic the extracellular matrix microenvironment, can maintain a moist microenvironment, absorb inflammatory exudates, and provide a physical barrier to prevent bacteria from entering the wound [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Porous synthetic hydrogel carrying basic fibroblast growth factor with controllable and rapid degradation rate to promote wound healing

“…Hydrogel dressings create optimal environment for wound healing, effectively promoting epithelial cells migration and angiogenesis, so as to promote wound healing. 5,6 Specially, the crosslinked networks provide the possibility for functionalizing the hydrogel dressings, such as carry and transport of bioactive molecules. 5,6 Various hydrogels, such as chitosan hydrogel and collagen hydrogel have been reported to carry growth factors for sustained release to promote wound healing.…”

“…5,6 Specially, the crosslinked networks provide the possibility for functionalizing the hydrogel dressings, such as carry and transport of bioactive molecules. 5,6 Various hydrogels, such as chitosan hydrogel and collagen hydrogel have been reported to carry growth factors for sustained release to promote wound healing. 4,7,8 Of note, the degradation of hydrogel is important.…”