Metal-organic framework-hydrogel composites as emerging platforms for enhanced wound healing applications: Material design, therapeutic strategies, and future prospects

Abstract

Wound healing remains a significant global healthcare challenge, particularly for chronic and complex wounds, imposing the development of advanced therapeutic materials with improved functionality and efficacy. The emergence of hybrid and composite materials offers promising solutions to the multifaceted challenges of wound healing, including infection control and tissue regeneration. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained attention due to their high porosity, large surface areas, structural tunability, and potential to incorporate therapeutic agents, making them ideal candidates for wound healing applications. Additionally, hydrogels are recognized for their soft, porous, extracellular matrix-like structure, moisturizing properties, and biocompatibility, which make them valuable in wound care. The integration of MOFs with hydrogels creates synergistic hybrid systems that combine the exceptional cargo-loading capacity and controllable degradation of MOFs with the biocompatibility and moisture-retention properties of hydrogels. This results in enhanced wound healing potential compared to the individual components. This article overviews the wound healing process and current therapeutic challenges, surveys the biomedical applications of MOFs and hydrogels individually, and presents their preparation methods. A detailed analysis of MOF-hydrogel composites (MOF-HCs) is provided including their functionality, wound-healing mechanisms, closure capabilities, and biocompatibility. This article also offers critical insights, supported by a thorough review of current research. Finally, the existing challenges and proposed future directions are highlighted, offering valuable perspectives for researchers in the field.