Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) as a macromolecular biomaterial in nanotechnology for diabetic wound healing

Diabetic wounds remain a major clinical challenge due to chronic inflammation, impaired healing processes, and a high incidence of complications such as infection and amputation. Standard treatment options often fail to achieve satisfactory outcomes, underscoring the need for innovative therapeutic biomaterials and strategies to address the pathophysiology of the diabetic wound environment. Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a promising macromolecular biomaterial owing to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and adjustable physicochemical properties. This review summarizes the pathophysiology of diabetic wounds and explores the role of polymer-based biomaterials, with a particular focus on PLGA. The physicochemical characteristics of PLGA and their influence on biological performance are discussed, together with its roles in tissue regeneration and controlled drug delivery. Current PLGA-based delivery systems, including hydrogels, nanoparticles, and scaffolds, are reviewed, highlighting their use for the delivery of cargos such as growth factors, antibiotics, and antidiabetic agents. Overall, the potential of PLGA as a macromolecular biomaterial for developing advanced diabetic wound-healing strategies is outlined, while acknowledging the need for further optimization to fully realize its benefits in clinical practice. In particular, it integrates the macromolecular design of PLGA (chain length, end-group chemistry, copolymer architecture) with its biological interactions in diabetic wounds, and critically discusses manufacturing and translational barriers.