Engineered catechol-based composite materials for diabetic wound healing

Diabetic wound healing impairment represents a major global clinical challenge and conventional therapies often target a single aspect, failing to coordinately regulate this complex pathological network. In recent years, naturally derived catechol/polyphenolic compounds (e.g., tannic acid, dopamine, epigallocatechin gallate, gallic acid) with inherent chemical versatility and bioactivity have emerged as ideal molecular building blocks for constructing next-generation intelligent, multi-level wound repair platforms. This review systematically discusses composite material systems, constructed through cross-scale materials engineering from nano-functional units to macro-therapeutic devices with catechol chemistry at the core, to achieve systematic regulation of the diabetic wound healing process. First, a multi-scale materials design framework is established to elaborate strategies from the precise construction of nanoparticles, nanozymes, and metal-phenolic networks, to mesoscale composite reinforcement, and ultimately integration into macroscopic devices such as hydrogels, microneedles, and conductive scaffolds. These approaches are dedicated to developing intelligent therapeutic platforms capable of dynamically sensing and responding to the complex wound microenvironment. Subsequently, it delves into the core mechanisms underlying the interaction between multi-scale composite materials and biological systems, with a focus on elucidating their multi-level synergistic therapeutic effects achieved through reactive oxygen species scavenging, macrophage phenotype reprogramming, synergistic antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions, and promotion of neurovascular regeneration. By integrating cutting-edge research cases, this review reveals the structure-activity relationships between "material chemistry - multi-scale structure - biological function," emphasizing the importance of cross-scale integration and intelligent design. Finally, addressing challenges in clinical translation, this review prospects key issues including biosafety, in-depth mechanistic elucidation, standardized fabrication, and personalized treatment, aiming to provide a theoretical framework and design guidance for developing high-efficiency, reliable diabetic wound repair materials.