Recent innovations in self‐healing polymers for wound‐healing and wound‐dressing applications

Abstract

Self‐healing polymers have emerged as advanced biomaterials for wound‐healing and wound‐dressing applications due to their ability to autonomously restore structural integrity and maintain therapeutic performance under dynamic conditions. By mimicking biological repair mechanisms, these materials address key limitations of conventional wound dressings, including mechanical failure, infection susceptibility and poor adaptability to complex wound environments. This review critically examines recent progress in self‐healing polymeric systems, with a focus on intrinsic and extrinsic healing mechanisms, material design strategies and multifunctional performance in cutaneous, bacteria‐infected and diabetic wounds. Representative case studies are discussed to highlight how dynamic polymer networks can integrate self‐repair, antimicrobial activity, angiogenic stimulation and controlled drug delivery. Current challenges, including mechanical–biological trade‐offs, translational barriers and long‐term stability, are analyzed, and future directions toward intelligent, sustainable and clinically relevant self‐healing wound dressings are outlined. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.