Multifunctional Microgels: From Material Design to Skin Wound Healing Applications.

Abstract

Skin wound healing is a complex and dynamic biological process that requires the suppression of excessive inflammation and oxidative stress, control of microbial invasion, and promotion of tissue regeneration. Conventional wound dressings often fail to modulate the wound microenvironment, limiting their effectiveness in chronic and infected wounds. In recent years, microgels have emerged as a promising candidate for wound healing due to their injectability, high surface area, tunable physicochemical properties, adaptability to irregular wound surface, and ability to encapsulate diverse therapeutic agents. Herein, recent advances in the design and fabrication of multifunctional microgels, highlighting their building blocks, fabrication strategies, and key characterization techniques are summarized. The application of microgels for skin wound healing is discussed, with emphasis on their roles in drug delivery, antibacterial action, antioxidant activity, and immunomodulation. Furthermore, recent progress in microgel-based hybrid dressings is reviewed, where microgels are integrated with other material systems, such as hydrogels, to achieve enhanced therapeutic performance. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives related to the clinical translation of microgel-based wound dressings are outlined. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of microgel-based strategies and underscores their growing potential in advanced wound care applications.