Multifunctional hydrogel for the treatment of atopic dermatitis: current advances and translational challenges

Atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease, is characterized by intense pruritus and varying degrees of cutaneous inflammation. Current therapeutic modalities (such as topical corticosteroids and biologics) can control symptoms in the short term, but limitations including extremely low bioavailability and significant side effects substantially restrict their clinical efficacy in AD management. Therefore, more precise and safer local management strategies for AD represent the most promising direction for future development. As a biomaterial with a three-dimensional network structure combining biomimetic properties and sustained drug delivery capability, hydrogel emerges as an optimal carrier choice. Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated that Desonide hydrogel provides substantial benefits to patients, making the design of multifunctional hydrogel dressings a research hotspot in recent years. This review first summarizes the feasible options for drug loading in hydrogels, then focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of different hydrogel types and drug delivery methods, and finally addresses the challenges and solutions for translating innovative hydrogels into clinical practice. Aimed at integrating perspectives from materials science, dermatology, and translational medicine, this review establishes a theoretical framework for the rational design of innovative hydrogels in local AD therapy.