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Lactic Acid-Loaded Hydrogels for Post-Episiotomy Wound Healing: Microenvironment Engineering and Regenerative
Dragos Brezeanu1,2, Ana-Maria Brezeanu1,2, Vlad Tica1,2,3
16th Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 900527 Constanta, Romania.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 14, 2026
Summary
Lactic acid hydrogels show promise for improving post-episiotomy wound healing by regulating the local environment and signaling pathways. This approach may enhance tissue regeneration, reduce infection risk, and alleviate pain for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Obstetrics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Post-episiotomy wound healing often relies on supportive care, overlooking critical local biochemical factors.
- Lactic acid, a natural metabolite, influences vaginal pH, microbial balance, and mucosal health.
- Lactate acts as a signaling molecule in angiogenesis, immune response, and extracellular matrix remodeling, suggesting therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the therapeutic potential of lactic acid-loaded hydrogels for post-episiotomy wound repair.
- To integrate evidence from molecular biology, biomaterials science, and clinical obstetrics.
- To examine physicochemical design, lactate signaling, and clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Narrative translational review of literature from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
- Analysis of physicochemical hydrogel parameters for controlled lactate release.
- Evaluation of lactate-mediated signaling pathways and clinical data.
Main Results:
- Lactic acid stabilizes hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, enhances vascular endothelial growth factor, and modulates immune cells.
- Hydrogels offer tunable platforms for pH buffering and controlled release of lactic acid.
- Clinical data indicate improved epithelialization, reduced infection, and lower pain with topical lactic acid.
Conclusions:
- Lactic acid-based hydrogels offer a promising strategy for post-episiotomy wound healing by stabilizing the microenvironment.
- Combining hydrogels with regenerative therapies like platelet-rich plasma may enhance outcomes.
- Further controlled trials and biomaterial standardization are needed to optimize treatment protocols.
