Stimuli-responsive hydrogels for enhanced skin wound Healing: Mechanisms, applications, and advances

Skin wound healing involves complex biological processes such as inflammation, cellular proliferation, and tissue repair. In recent years, responsive hydrogels have gained attention for their biocompatibility, adjustability, and environmental responsiveness. These smart materials can change their properties in response to stimuli like temperature, pH, ionic strength, and more. Responsive hydrogels promote wound healing by maintaining a moist environment, enhancing cell migration, and reducing scarring. They also enable controlled, precise drug release tailored to the specific conditions of the wound, providing personalized treatment. Dual- or multi-responsive hydrogels, which incorporate several stimuli-response mechanisms (such as independent response, cooperative response, and cascade response), can adapt to the complex and dynamic wound microenvironment. This allows for real-time adjustment of drug release, maximizing therapeutic effects. This paper reviews the progress of responsive hydrogels in skin wound healing, focusing on their role in promoting healing, controlling drug release, and offering antibacterial properties. The aim is to highlight the potential of these hydrogels for improving clinical skin wound treatment.