Engineering Pro-Regenerative Hydrogels for Scarless Wound Healing

Abstract

Skin and skin appendages protect the body from harmful environment and prevent internal organs from dehydration. Superficial epidermal wounds usually heal without scarring, however, deep dermal wound healing commonly ends up with nonfunctioning scar formation with substantial loss of skin appendage. Wound healing is one of the most complex dynamic biological processes, during which a cascade of biomolecules combine with stem cell influx and matrix synthesis and synergistically contribute to wound healing at all levels. Although many approaches have been investigated to restore complete skin, the clinically effective therapy is still unavailable and the regeneration of perfect skin still remains a significant challenge. The complete mechanism behind scarless skin regeneration still requires further investigation. Fortunately, recent advancement in regenerative medicine empowers us more than ever to restore tissue in a regenerative manner. Many studies have elucidated and reviewed the contribution of stem cells and growth factors to scarless wound healing. This article focuses on recent advances in scarless wound healing, especially strategies to engineer pro-regenerative scaffolds to restore damaged skin in a regenerative manner.

Keywords: dextran; hydrogels; regenerative; scarless wound healing.