Radiation synthesis of pH-sensitive 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate/ polyethylene oxide/ZnS nanocomposite hydrogel membrane for wound dressing application

Hydrogels, due to their excellent biochemical and mechnical property, have shown attractive advantages in the field of wound dressings. However, a comprehensive review of the functional hydrogel as a wound dressing is still lacking. This work first summarizes the skin wound healing process and relates evaluation parameters and then reviews the advanced functions of hydrogel dressings such as antimicrobial property, adhesion and hemostasis, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation, substance delivery, self-healing, stimulus response, conductivity, and the recently emerged wound monitoring feature, and the strategies adopted to achieve these functions are all classified and discussed. Furthermore, applications of hydrogel wound dressing for the treatment of different types of wounds such as incisional wound and the excisional wound are summarized. Chronic wounds are also mentioned, and the focus of attention on infected wounds, burn wounds, and diabetic wounds is discussed. Finally, the future directions of hydrogel wound dressings for wound healing are further proposed.

Wound healing is a complex regeneration process, which is characterised by intercalating degradation and re-assembly of connective tissue and epidermal layer. The pH value within the wound-milieu influences indirectly and directly all biochemical reactions taking place in this process of healing. Interestingly it is so far a neglected parameter for the overall outcome. For more than three decades the common assumption amongst physicians was that a low pH value, such as it is found on normal skin, is favourable for wound healing. However, investigations have shown that in fact some healing processes such as the take-rate of skin-grafts require an alkaline milieu. The matter is thus much more complicated than it was assumed. This review article summarises the existing literature dealing with the topic of pH value within the wound-milieu, its influence on wound healing and critically discusses the currently existing data in this field. The conclusion to be drawn at present is that the wound pH indeed proves to be a potent influential factor for the healing process and that different pH ranges are required for certain distinct phases of wound healing. Further systematic data needs to be collected for a better understanding of the pH requirements under specific circumstances. This is important as it will help to develop new pH targeted therapeutic strategies.

Skin is the largest organ of the human body, protecting it against the external environment. Despite high self-regeneration potential, severe skin defects will not heal spontaneously and need to be covered by skin substitutes. Tremendous progress has been made in the field of skin tissue engineering, in recent years, to develop new skin substitutes. Among them, hydrogels are one of the candidates with most potential to mimic the native skin microenvironment, due to their porous and hydrated molecular structure. They can be applied as a permanent or temporary dressing for different wounds to support the regeneration and healing of the injured epidermis, dermis, or both. Based on the material used for their fabrication, hydrogels can be subdivided into two main groups—natural and synthetic. Moreover, hydrogels can be reinforced by incorporating nanoparticles to obtain “in situ” hybrid hydrogels, showing superior properties and tailored functionality. In addition, different sensors can be embedded in hydrogel wound dressings to provide real-time information about the wound environment. This review focuses on the most recent developments in the field of hydrogel-based skin substitutes for skin replacement. In particular, we discuss the synthesis, fabrication, and biomedical application of novel “smart” hydrogels.