Advances in alginate-based hydrogel wound dressings: Composite strategies, application type, and multifunctional...

Alginate (Alg), a natural polysaccharide, has emerged as a promising substrate for wound dressings due to its excellent biocompatibility, rapid gelling capacity, and mild crosslinking properties. This review systematically summarizes the research progress of Alg-based hydrogel dressings. Firstly, the advantages of Alg-based hydrogel dressings meet key medical requirements, including absorbing tissue exudate, maintaining a moist microenvironment (ME), preventing microbial invasion, and promoting tissue regeneration. Subsequently, composite strategies incorporating Alg with natural polymers (such as chitosan, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, etc.) and synthetic polymers (such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, polyacrylate, etc.) are comprehensively discussed in detail and classified based on material sources. To enhance outcomes for diverse wounds, the application types of Alg hydrogel are also explored. Special attention is given to functional designs targeting clinical needs, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hemostatic, and stimulus-response capabilities, emphasizing the synergistic effects of combining drugs, nanomaterials, or photothermal agents. Addressing clinical translation challenges, we propose future research paths focusing on optimized composites, greener preparation, and personalized multimodal therapies. This review aims to provide valuable insights for advancing research in wound management field and guide the development of next-generation intelligent wound dressings.