Research progress and prospects of lignin-based hydrogels for wound dressing applications: A review

Chronic wounds that do not heal within a short period have become an increasingly important focus of clinical research. Wound dressings play a crucial role in the treatment of chronic wounds, as they not only protect the wound and absorb exudate but also promote healing. Traditional wound dressings (e.g., gauze, foam, silver ion dressings) have poor water retention, which can easily cause secondary damage to dry wounds. They also do not absorb exudate effectively, increasing the risk of inflammation and infection. Additionally, they often fail to conform well to the wound, limiting their ability to promote healing. Lignin-based hydrogels can overcome these limitations and offer excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ease of functionalization, making them a promising new material in wound dressing research. This review first details the recent progress in the development of lignin-based hydrogels for wound dressings. It then comprehensively discusses their preparation methods and performance optimization strategies. Finally, a long-term perspective on their application in wound management is provided. We hope this work contributes to the high-value utilization of lignin in biomedical engineering and medical materials.