The design principle of natural polysaccharide hydrogels for promoting wound healing: a prospective review

Abstract

Acute skin injuries and chronic non-healing wounds are common in daily life, posing significant physical trauma to patients and creating substantial social and economic burdens. Polysaccharide-based hydrogels not only maintain optimal moisture levels for wound recovery but also act as effective barriers against bacterial infection. Polysaccharides, with their unique properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity, are promising materials for constructing hydrogels designed for wound healing. This review discusses wound physiology, key design factors for wound-healing hydrogels, and the fundamental principles of hydrogel gelation. It also provides an overview of the current applications of polysaccharide-based hydrogels—including those derived from hyaluronic acid, chitosan, sodium alginate, cellulose, glucose, and starch—as advanced wound dressings. Finally, the review outlines current challenges and future research directions for polysaccharide-based hydrogels in wound healing, aiming to inspire further exploration and innovation in this field.