Book Title: Innovative Approaches in Multidisciplinary Research and Development (IAMRD)
Chief Editors: Dr. Anil Kashinath Salunke and Dr. Rituraj Pant
Associate Editors: Prof. (Dr.) Sourav Madhur Dey and Dr. Amrutha Satheesan
Co-Editors: Dr. Souvik Sur and Dr. Phakir Singh
ISBN: 978-93-7183-004-1
Chapter: 7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59646/708/7
Authors: Ngahneiching Singsit, Santa Mandal, and Priyam Jyoti Das
Abstract
Diabetic wounds, particularly diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), represent a major global healthcare challenge due to their high prevalence, prolonged healing time, risk of infection and amputation, and substantial economic burden. Conventional wound dressings are often inadequate because they fail to maintain an optimal wound environment and cannot actively respond to the pathological conditions present in chronic diabetic wounds. Recent advances in biomaterials have led to the development of microenvironment-responsive hydrogels, which have emerged as promising therapeutic platforms for intelligent wound management. These hydrogels are designed to respond dynamically to pathological stimuli within the diabetic wound microenvironment, including oxidative stress, hypoxia, chronic inflammation, pH imbalance, and bacterial infection. By incorporating stimulus-sensitive components into three-dimensional polymeric networks, responsive hydrogels enable controlled and targeted release of therapeutic agents such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory molecules, antibacterial agents, and growth factors. This review discusses the pathological characteristics of the diabetic wound microenvironment, including excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), impaired angiogenesis, persistent inflammation, biofilm formation, and extracellular matrix dysfunction. It further highlights the design principles, drug release mechanisms, and regenerative potential of responsive hydrogel systems. Particular emphasis is placed on oxidative stress-responsive and hypoxia- or inflammation-responsive hydrogels that regulate ROS accumulation, modulate macrophage polarization, promote angiogenesis, and accelerate tissue regeneration. Overall, microenvironment-responsive hydrogels represent a promising next-generation strategy for improving diabetic wound healing through multifunctional and adaptive therapeutic approaches.
Keywords: Diabetic wound healing; microenvironment-responsive hydrogels; oxidative stress regulation; stimuli-responsive drug delivery; chronic inflammation modulation; angiogenic biomaterials.