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Review
. 2025 May 15;16(5):104937.
doi: 10.4239/wjd.v16.i5.104937.

Intelligent hydrogel-based dressings for treatment of chronic diabetic wounds

Huan Liu  1 , Li He  2
Affiliations
Review

Intelligent hydrogel-based dressings for treatment of chronic diabetic wounds

Huan Liu et al. World J Diabetes. .

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.

Keywords: Diabetic wounds; Drug delivery systems; Hydrogel; Intelligent dressings; Stimuli-responsive polymers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of design strategies of intelligent hydrogels for diabetic wound healing.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Four typical stages of diabetic wound healing.
Figure 3
Figure 3
VOS map of diabetic wound healing and hydrogel involved in pharmacy.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Responsiveness mechanisms of smart hydrogels to environmental stimuli. LCST: Lower critical solution temperature.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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