Engineering immunomodulatory hydrogels for diabetic wound microenvironment reprogramming

Diabetic wounds, characterized by impaired healing due to chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation, pose a significant clinical challenge. Traditional therapies often fail to address the complex immunological dysfunction underlying these wounds. Immunomodulatory hydrogels have become a promising therapeutic strategy for promoting macrophage polarization, inhibiting the formation of NETs, and effectively recruiting T cell. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in immunoregulatory hydrogels for diabetic wound healing, focusing on their mechanisms of action, design principles, and clinical potential. Additionally, we explore the design principles of immunoregulatory hydrogels, including biomaterial selection, crosslinking strategies, and active drug integration. Finally, we point out the challenges faced by the transformation of immunoregulatory hydrogels into clinical products, and propose future research directions to promote its clinical application.