[Functional requirements and research advances of antimicrobial hydrogels for combat trauma wound repair]

Battlefield trauma wounds, characterized by complex injury mechanisms and extremely high infection risks, impose stringent multifunctional requirements on wound repair materials-specifically rapid hemostasis, potent antimicrobial activity, dynamic adhesion, and promotion of tissue regeneration. Antimicrobial hydrogels demonstrate significant advantages in infection control and tissue regeneration owing to their three-dimensional network structure, high water content, and tunable physicochemical properties. Based on the distinct requirements of each stage of the battlefield trauma echelon care system (encompassing emergency field care, medical evacuation, and definitive hospital treatment), and while fully accounting for battlefield environmental constraints, this review systematically evaluates the applicability, technical bottlenecks, and clinical translation prospects of various antimicrobial hydrogels. The analysis aims to provide a theoretical foundation and targeted research directions for the design of next-generation intelligent hydrogels optimized for battlefield application.