An Overview of the Biomaterials Used in Hydrogel Fabrication for Chronic Wound Healing Applications

Abstract

Wound healing is a delicate, complex and challenging medical process. Hydrogel is a material that possesses properties aligned with the ideal characteristics required for wound dressings. Its mechanical properties, derived from the interconnection of fibers, closely resemble those of soft tissues regarding moisture retention, secretion absorption, and oxygen permeability. Additionally, hydrogels can be tailored to perform various functions, such as crosslinking with other materials and loading drugs, bioactive compounds and growth factors. This review focuses on the fabrication of multifunctional hydrogel wound dressings using both natural and synthetic biological materials, including silk fibroin, chitosan, alginate, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, each exhibiting distinct properties that enhance their efficacy as wound dressings. Consequently, this review highlights significant advancements in developing more effective hydrogel wound dressings.