Current trend on preparation, properties, and wound healing applications of polysaccharide-based hydrogel patches: A...

Wound management is a major global challenge, which has a significant negative impact on the medical system and the social economy. Nevertheless, traditional wound treatment strategies have limitations in precise wound management and dynamic drug release, which in turn leads to poor wound healing. Notably, increasing studies are focusing on developing hydrogel patches that can respond in real time to the microenvironment of wounds. In recent years, numerous studies have adopted polysaccharides (chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginate, cellulose, etc.) as carrier materials to prepare hydrogel patches. Polysaccharide hydrogel patches (PHPs) possess excellent biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability, proficient swelling and moisturizing properties, and good mechanical properties. Currently, PHPs are usually prepared by methods including molding, electrospinning, freeze-drying, and 3D printing. In-depth exploration of the functional properties of PHPs and their application in wound environment monitoring and response holds significant guiding importance for the design of PHPs with specific functionalities. Hence, this paper systematically outlines the carrier materials and preparation methods of PHPs. Moreover, this article comprehensively reviews the functional properties of PHPs. Furthermore, this review systematically introduces the response mechanisms of PHPs to critical stimulating factors in the wound microenvironment (temperature, humidity, pH, glucose, ROS, etc.) and their application progress.