Research advances in the application of medicine-food homologous polysaccharide composite hydrogels for wound repair: A clinical nursing practice perspective

Abstract Wound healing, especially the management of chronic and difficult-to-heal wounds, remains a critical challenge in clinical nursing practice, characterized by prolonged healing times and elevated infection risks. Composite hydrogels incorporating medicine-food homologous polysaccharides—such as Chinese yam polysaccharides and Dendrobium polysaccharides—exhibit significant advantages in accelerating wound healing, modulating inflammatory responses, and optimizing the wound microenvironment. These benefits stem from their natural bioactivity, high biocompatibility, and multifunctional regulatory properties, positioning them as promising candidates for advanced wound repair materials. This review, grounded in clinical nursing needs, systematically summarizes the fabrication methods and mechanisms of action of these hydrogels, highlights recent progress in both preclinical research and nursing-oriented applications, and discusses emerging trends in intelligent material development and their integration into clinical care settings.