Functional Hydrogels for Treatment of Chronic Wounds

Chronic wounds severely affect 1–2% of the population in developed countries. It has been reported that nearly 6.5 million people in the United States suffer from at least one chronic wound in their lifetime. The treatment of chronic wounds is critical for maintaining the physical and mental well-being of patients and improving their quality of life. There are a host of methods for the treatment of chronic wounds, including debridement, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, ultrasound, and electromagnetic therapies, negative pressure wound therapy, skin grafts, and hydrogel dressings. Among these, hydrogel dressings represent a promising and viable choice because their tunable functional properties, such as biodegradability, adhesivity, and antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and pre-angiogenic bioactivities, can accelerate the healing of chronic wounds. This review summarizes the types of chronic wounds, phases of the healing process, and key therapeutic approaches. Hydrogel-based dressings are reviewed for their multifunctional properties and their advantages for the treatment of chronic wounds. Examples of commercially available hydrogel dressings are also provided to demonstrate their effectiveness over other types of wound dressings for chronic wound healing.