Chronic
wounds severely affect 1-2% of the population in developed countries. It has been reported that nearly 6.5 million people in the United States suffer from at least one chronic
wound in their lifetime. The treatment of chronic
wounds is critical for maintaining the physical and mental well-being of patients and improving their quality of life. There are a host of methods for the treatment of chronic
wounds, including
debridement,
hyperbaric oxygen therapy, ultrasound, and
electromagnetic therapies,
negative pressure wound therapy, skin grafts, and
hydrogel dressings. Among these,
hydrogel dressings represent a promising and viable choice because their tunable functional properties, such as biodegradability, adhesivity, and antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and pre-angiogenic bioactivities, can accelerate the healing of chronic
wounds. This review summarizes the types of chronic
wounds, phases of the healing process, and key therapeutic approaches.
Hydrogel-based dressings are reviewed for their multifunctional properties and their advantages for the treatment of chronic
wounds. Examples of commercially available
hydrogel dressings are also provided to demonstrate their effectiveness over other types of
wound dressings for chronic wound healing.