Progress in Advanced Composite Hydrogel Dressings: Innovative Materials and Designs for the Treatment of Chronic Wounds

Chronic wounds, as a kind of long-term disease that is difficult to cure, are challenged in healthcare, placing substantial physical, emotional, and economic burdens on patients and society. Effective treatment of chronic wounds is essential for improving patient quality of life, reducing healthcare costs, and alleviating the strain on medical resources. Hydrogel materials have emerged as promising candidates for chronic wound treatment due to their exceptional adaptability to wound environments and the ability to deliver various therapeutic agents, effectively promoting the healing of chronic wounds. However, the wide array of available materials with diverse functionalities presents a challenge in selecting the most appropriate components for synthesizing hydrogel wound dressings. This review summarizes the common hydrogel materials, including their properties, cross-linking methods, and applications. Additionally, it systematically categorizes different therapeutic agents, elucidating their action mechanisms and therapeutic effects. Furthermore, this work offers guidance on material selection and hydrogel dressing design based on the characteristics of chronic wounds. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of composite hydrogels in the field of wound dressings are discussed. This review provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of hydrogel wound dressings and offers a reliable basis for selecting appropriate materials to synthesize ideal hydrogel wound dressings for chronic wounds.