Insight Into Bioactive Hydrogels for Wound Healing and Drug Delivery Systems

Hydrogels are hydrophilic but water-soluble polymer systems with a three-dimensional network structure. They can absorb large amounts of water and maintain their shape and remain soft. The high-moisturizing properties, good biocompatibility, and controlled biodegradability of hydrogels have allowed them to be widely used in wound dressing, tissue engineering, controlled drug delivery systems, and other fields. This article reviews the most widely used antibacterial gel dressings for wound healing in recent years and focuses on the application of an environmentally responsive intelligent hydrogel delivery system. Finally, the development prospects and challenges of hydrogel wound dressings are forecasted.