Injectable Smart Hydrogels for Wound Management

Abstract

Injectable smart hydrogels offer unique and valuable properties and are ideal candidates for targeted biomedical applications. Among the numerous advantages, injectable and stimuli-responsive properties are the most important factors that determine the therapeutic efficiency of these materials in tissue engineering and wound healing applications. These biomaterials are an attractive option for chronic wounds due to their inherent ability to fill wound defects of any geometry, provide a scaffold for regeneration of the extracellular matrix and accelerate the wound healing process. This chapter briefly summarizes the important criteria that need to be considered in the development of smart injectable hydrogels for wound healing applications. The process of wound healing and applications of various smart injectable hydrogels in cellular therapies and wound management are also discussed in this chapter.