Microenvironment-Responsive Hydrogels for Burn Wound Healing: From Molecular Design to Therapeutic Applications
4 affiliations
- 1Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
- 2Engineering Research Center of Key Technology and Industrialization of Cell-Based Vaccine, Ministry of Education, School of Bioengineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
- 3School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
- 4State Key Laboratory of Advanced Progressing and Recycling of Nonferrous Metal Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730030, China
Abstract
Burn wounds exhibit a dynamic and heterogeneous microenvironment characterized by altered pH, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), dysregulated protease activity, and infection-associated signals, providing potential triggers for stimuli-responsive hydrogels. However, in vitro responsiveness does not necessarily indicate effective activation under actual burn conditions, and therapeutic efficacy in burn models alone cannot confirm in situ triggering. This review therefore examines burn-responsive hydrogels through the framework of microenvironmental signal–material response–network transformation–therapeutic output. We discuss endogenous signals, including pH, ROS, and matrix metalloproteinases, together with externally controllable stimuli such as temperature, near-infrared light, and ultrasound. Molecular functionalization, dynamic crosslinking, and multi-network architectures are analyzed in relation to wound adaptability and therapeutic outputs, including antibacterial activity, oxidative-stress regulation, and tissue regeneration. Particular emphasis is placed on distinguishing material-level responsiveness, therapeutic efficacy in burn models, and in situ activation within the burn microenvironment. Future studies should quantitatively match pathological signal ranges with material activation thresholds while balancing response fidelity, wound adaptability, biosafety, manufacturability, and long-term therapeutic efficacy to facilitate clinical translation.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026microenvironmentresponsive,
title = {{Microenvironment-Responsive Hydrogels for Burn Wound Healing: From Molecular Design to Therapeutic Applications}},
author = {Qingxu Yang and Zhengxian Li and Junjie Fang and Hai He and Jiayinaer Baishan and Mengye Zhan and Yufei Yang and Pen Jin and Zhenbin Chen and Zifan Wang},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/polym18212616},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2616},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Microenvironment-Responsive Hydrogels for Burn Wound Healing: From Molecular Design to Therapeutic Applications
AU - Qingxu Yang
AU - Zhengxian Li
AU - Junjie Fang
AU - Hai He
AU - Jiayinaer Baishan
AU - Mengye Zhan
AU - Yufei Yang
AU - Pen Jin
AU - Zhenbin Chen
AU - Zifan Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18212616
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2616
AB - Burn wounds exhibit a dynamic and heterogeneous microenvironment characterized by altered pH, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), dysregulated protease activity, and infection-associated signals, providing potential triggers for stimuli-responsive hydrogels. However, in vitro responsiveness does not necessarily indicate effective activation under actual burn conditions, and therapeutic efficacy in burn models alone cannot confirm in situ triggering. This review therefore examines burn-responsive hydrogels through the framework of microenvironmental signal–material response–network transformation–therapeutic output. We discuss endogenous signals, including pH, ROS, and matrix metalloproteinases, together with externally controllable stimuli such as temperature, near-infrared light, and ultrasound. Molecular functionalization, dynamic crosslinking, and multi-network architectures are analyzed in relation to wound adaptability and therapeutic outputs, including antibacterial activity, oxidative-stress regulation, and tissue regeneration. Particular emphasis is placed on distinguishing material-level responsiveness, therapeutic efficacy in burn models, and in situ activation within the burn microenvironment. Future studies should quantitatively match pathological signal ranges with material activation thresholds while balancing response fidelity, wound adaptability, biosafety, manufacturability, and long-term therapeutic efficacy to facilitate clinical translation.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -