An Overview of the Biomaterials Used in Hydrogel Fabrication for Chronic Wound Healing Applications

Wound healing is a delicate, complex and challenging medical process. Hydrogel is a material that possesses properties aligned with the ideal characteristics required for wound dressings. Its mechanical properties, derived from the interconnection of fibers, closely resemble those of soft tissues regarding moisture retention, secretion absorption, and oxygen permeability. Additionally, hydrogels can be tailored to perform various functions, such as crosslinking with other materials and loading drugs, bioactive compounds and growth factors. This review focuses on the fabrication of multifunctional hydrogel wound dressings using both natural and synthetic biological materials, including silk fibroin, chitosan, alginate, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, each exhibiting distinct properties that enhance their efficacy as wound dressings. Consequently, this review highlights significant advancements in developing more effective hydrogel wound dressings. HIGHLIGHTS Chronic wounds have a significant impact on patient well-being; thus, the use of hydrogel-based wound dressings can significantly influence the rate and quality of the wound healing process. The design of hydrogel should also reduce inflammation, eliminate infection, promote healing process, and exploit mechanical qualities to absorb exudates. By incorporating bioactive molecules such as growth factors and antibacterial agents into hydrogel scaffolds, wound healing process can be enhanced. Before clinical trials, novel hydrogels require biocompatibility, mechanical, moisture retention, and animal model studies to ensure efficacy and safety. By addressing the research gap and proposing the direction of future wound dressing development, it would improve the patient outcomes for chronic wound treatment. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT