A review: natural polymer based hydrogel wound dressings in the wound healing of diabetics’ patients

Abstract

Hydrogels are largely used as convenient dressing materials for promoting a moist and healing-friendly environment, particularly in the treatment of chronic wounds such as diabetic wounds. The properties of natural polymer-based hydrogels, extracted from sources such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, have a significant impact on wound recovery by absorbing exudate, promoting cell growth, altering tissue structure, and working as effective dressing materials. Some commonly used biopolymers include cellulose, chitosan, alginate, and hyaluronic acid. These hydrogels have favorable properties such as 3D polymeric networks, hydrophilicity, and absorption abilities for creating a moist and efficient healing environment. In the future, advancements in hydrogel technology, such as increasing mechanical stability, balancing molecular weight, and optimizing physiological processes in microorganisms, will improve the use of hydrogels in wound healing.