Liu H, He L. Intelligent hydrogel-based dressings for treatment of chronic diabetic wounds. World J Diabetes 2025; 16(5): 104937 [DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v16.i5.104937]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Li He, Associate Professor, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 8 Liangxiang East Road, Fangshan District, Beijing 100000, China. bit_lh@bit.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Diabetes. May 15, 2025; 16(5): 104937 Published online May 15, 2025. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v16.i5.104937
Intelligent hydrogel-based dressings for treatment of chronic diabetic wounds
Huan Liu, Li He
Huan Liu, Li He, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100000, China
Author contributions: Liu H reviewed and summarized the literature and wrote the paper; He L designed and revised the manuscript; all authors were involved in the critical review of the results and have contributed to, read, and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Li He, Associate Professor, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 8 Liangxiang East Road, Fangshan District, Beijing 100000, China. bit_lh@bit.edu.cn
Received: January 7, 2025 Revised: February 22, 2025 Accepted: March 14, 2025 Published online: May 15, 2025 Processing time: 108 Days and 20.4 Hours
Abstract
Diabetic wounds represent a significant challenge in the medical field, significantly impacting patient quality of life and imposing a heavy burden on healthcare systems. Intelligent hydrogel dressings have attracted significant attention in diabetic wound treatment due to their unique properties. This review systematically explores the three main categories of intelligent hydrogels (natural, synthetic, and composite), dissecting their composition, structure, and the mechanisms that enable their intelligent responses. The crucial roles of these dressings in maintaining a moist wound environment, efficiently absorbing exudate, and precisely delivering drugs are expounded. Moreover, their application advantages in combating bacteria and infections, regulating inflammation and immunity, promoting angiogenesis and tissue regeneration, as well as enabling real-time monitoring and personalized treatment, are explored in depth. Additionally, we discuss future research directions and the prospects for personalized precision medicine in diabetic wound care, aiming to inspire innovation and provide a comprehensive theoretical basis for the development of next-generation intelligent dressings.
Core Tip: This review provides an in-depth analysis of intelligent hydrogel dressings for diabetic wound treatment, emphasizing their unique compositions, responsive mechanisms, and diverse applications. It highlights their advantages in maintaining a moist wound environment, precise drug delivery, and real-time monitoring, while addressing challenges and future directions. This comprehensive overview aims to inspire innovation and guide the development of next-generation wound care solutions.
