Advances in Composite Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Mechanisms and Applications

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have emerged as a promising class of biomaterials for advanced wound healing applications, offering dynamic and controllable responses to the wound microenvironment. These hydrogels are designed to respond to specific stimuli, such as pH, temperature, light, and enzyme a...

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Main Authors: Ke Ding, Mingrui Liao, Yingyu Wang, Jian R. Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Gels
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/420
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author Ke Ding
Mingrui Liao
Yingyu Wang
Jian R. Lu
author_facet Ke Ding
Mingrui Liao
Yingyu Wang
Jian R. Lu
author_sort Ke Ding
collection DOAJ
description Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have emerged as a promising class of biomaterials for advanced wound healing applications, offering dynamic and controllable responses to the wound microenvironment. These hydrogels are designed to respond to specific stimuli, such as pH, temperature, light, and enzyme activity, enabling precise regulation of drug release, antimicrobial activity, and tissue regeneration. Composite stimuli-responsive hydrogels, by integrating multiple response mechanisms and functions, show potential for addressing the diverse needs of wound healing. This review explores the biological mechanisms of wound healing, the design and classification of composite stimuli-responsive hydrogels, and the key fabrication strategies employed to optimise their properties. Despite their immense potential, unresolved challenges such as biocompatibility, long-term stability, and scalability continue to limit their translation into clinical practice. Future research will focus on integrating hydrogels with smart wearable devices, AI-driven personalised medicine, and 3D bioprinting technologies to develop next-generation wound care solutions. With continuous advancements in biomaterials science and bioengineering, stimuli-responsive hydrogels hold great promise for revolutionising wound management.
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spelling doaj-art-e56ab32273ba4c28b2c9b52cda0bfc932025-08-20T03:27:25ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-05-0111642010.3390/gels11060420Advances in Composite Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Mechanisms and ApplicationsKe Ding0Mingrui Liao1Yingyu Wang2Jian R. Lu3Biological Physics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UKBiological Physics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UKBiological Physics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UKBiological Physics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UKStimuli-responsive hydrogels have emerged as a promising class of biomaterials for advanced wound healing applications, offering dynamic and controllable responses to the wound microenvironment. These hydrogels are designed to respond to specific stimuli, such as pH, temperature, light, and enzyme activity, enabling precise regulation of drug release, antimicrobial activity, and tissue regeneration. Composite stimuli-responsive hydrogels, by integrating multiple response mechanisms and functions, show potential for addressing the diverse needs of wound healing. This review explores the biological mechanisms of wound healing, the design and classification of composite stimuli-responsive hydrogels, and the key fabrication strategies employed to optimise their properties. Despite their immense potential, unresolved challenges such as biocompatibility, long-term stability, and scalability continue to limit their translation into clinical practice. Future research will focus on integrating hydrogels with smart wearable devices, AI-driven personalised medicine, and 3D bioprinting technologies to develop next-generation wound care solutions. With continuous advancements in biomaterials science and bioengineering, stimuli-responsive hydrogels hold great promise for revolutionising wound management.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/420stimuli-responsive hydrogelscomposite hydrogelswound healingbioactive agentscontrolled drug releaseantibacterial hydrogels
spellingShingle Ke Ding
Mingrui Liao
Yingyu Wang
Jian R. Lu
Advances in Composite Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Mechanisms and Applications
Gels
stimuli-responsive hydrogels
composite hydrogels
wound healing
bioactive agents
controlled drug release
antibacterial hydrogels
title Advances in Composite Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Mechanisms and Applications
title_full Advances in Composite Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Mechanisms and Applications
title_fullStr Advances in Composite Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Mechanisms and Applications
title_full_unstemmed Advances in Composite Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Mechanisms and Applications
title_short Advances in Composite Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Mechanisms and Applications
title_sort advances in composite stimuli responsive hydrogels for wound healing mechanisms and applications
topic stimuli-responsive hydrogels
composite hydrogels
wound healing
bioactive agents
controlled drug release
antibacterial hydrogels
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/420
work_keys_str_mv AT keding advancesincompositestimuliresponsivehydrogelsforwoundhealingmechanismsandapplications
AT mingruiliao advancesincompositestimuliresponsivehydrogelsforwoundhealingmechanismsandapplications
AT yingyuwang advancesincompositestimuliresponsivehydrogelsforwoundhealingmechanismsandapplications
AT jianrlu advancesincompositestimuliresponsivehydrogelsforwoundhealingmechanismsandapplications