Multifunctional hydrogels for wound healing: Special focus on biomacromolecular based hydrogels

Abstract

Hydrogels, due to provide a moist environment and mimick the native extracellular matrix (ECM), are of great interest in the field of wound healing. Most developed hydrogels face challenges such as lack of multifunctionality and low mechanical properties, so they cannot properly support skin tissue regeneration. Incorporating various biomaterials and nanostructures into the hydrogels is an emerging approach to develop multifunctional hydrogels with improved or generated new functions that are beneficial for wound healing. These multifunctional hydrogels can be fabricated with a wide range of functions, including antibacterial, antioxidant, bio-adhesiveness, and satisfying mechanical properties. Two approaches are interested in developing multifunctional hydrogel-based dressings; taking the advantages of the chemical composition of biomaterials and addition of nanomaterials or nanostructures. A large number of synthetic and natural polymers, bioactive molecules, or nanomaterials have been used to obtain hydrogel-based dressings with multifunctionality for wound healing applications. In the present review paper, advances in the development of multifunctional hydrogel-based dressings for wound healing have been highlighted.