Recent development of 3D printing hydrogel for treatment of diabetic wound

Diabetic wound healing disorder was one of the common complications in diabetic patients, which was characterized by persistent chronic inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, abnormal remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM), and significantly increased oxidative stress level. Although the traditional treatment models have achieved some success, it still faced the challenges of prolonged wound healing time, increased risk of infection, and continuous formation of scar tissue, especially in gastrointestinal surgical incisions, orthopedic surgical incisions, and neurosurgical surgical incisions. In recent years, the integration of biomaterials and advanced manufacturing technologies brought new opportunities for diabetic wound repair. Hydrogels have gained more attention due to the excellent biocompatibility, degradability, and significant wound repair ability. As an emerging advanced manufacturing method, 3D printing technology could accurately fabricate hydrogels according to the shape and size of the wound, providing an ideal microenvironment for wound repair. In this review, we systematically reviewed the latest research of 3D printed hydrogels in diabetic wound repair in the past five years, and deeply discussed the preparation methods, including physical, chemical, and biological cross-linking methods, and the specific mechanisms of promoting wound healing, such as regulating inflammatory response, promoting angiogenesis, and guiding the normal remodeling of ECM. This review aimed to provide a solid theoretical and experimental basis for the continued development and eventual clinical application of 3D printed hydrogels for diabetic wounds.