Microalgae as a Novel Therapy for Chronic Wound Healing

Abstract

Chronic wounds pose a substantial global health challenge, marked by persistent inflammation, infection, hypoxia, and impaired tissue regeneration. Traditional oxygen-based therapies, including hyperbaric and topical oxygen treatments, often suffer from limited efficacy, high costs, restricted accessibility, and difficulties in achieving sustained oxygen delivery. In contrast, microalgae offer a promising and sustainable alternative, owing to their biocompatibility, glucose consumption, and continuous oxygen production via photosynthesis. Innovative delivery platforms, such as hydrogels, scaffolds, sutures, microneedles, and microrobots, have demonstrated enhanced wound healing by mitigating hypoxia, reducing infection, and modulating inflammation. Recent advances in genetic engineering and 3D bioprinting further enhance the therapeutic potential of these systems. This review explores current progress in microalgae-based wound healing approaches, with a particular focus on photosynthesis-driven oxygen delivery technologies.